Agni Purana

देशे त्वदृश्यः शत्रूणां कुर्य्यात् प्रकृतिकल्पनां । संहतान् योधयेदल्पान् कामं विस्तारयेद्‌बहून् ।। २३६.

In a place unseen by the enemies, he should arrange the formation; he should engage the gathered troops with the few, and expand the many as desired.

सूचीमुखमनीकं स्यादल्पानां बहुभिः सह। व्यूहाः प्राण्यङ्गरूपाश्च द्रव्यरूपाश्च कीर्त्तिताः ।। २३६.

The formation of the needle-point should be used for the few along with the many; the battle arrays are described as having the forms of vital limbs and of objects.

गरुडो मकरव्यूहश्चक्रः श्येनस्तथैव च । अर्द्धचन्द्रश्च वज्रश्च शकटव्यूह एव च ।। २३६.

The Garuḍa, Makara, Chakra, and Śyena formations, as well as the half-moon, the thunderbolt, and the cart formation, are also mentioned.

मण्डलः सर्वतोभद्रः सूचीव्यूहश्च ते नराः । व्यूहानामथ सर्वेषां पञ्चधा सैन्यकल्पना ।। २३६.

The circle, the all-auspicious, and the needle formation—these are the arrays; and the arrangement of the army is described as fivefold for all these formations.

द्वौ पक्षावनुपक्षौ द्वाववश्यं पञ्चमं भवेत् । एकेन यदि वा द्वाभ्यां भागाभ्यां युद्धमाचरेत् ।। २३६.

There are two wings, two sub-wings, and the fifth must always be present; one may fight with one or two divisions.

भागत्रयं स्थापयेत्तु तेषां रक्षार्थमेव च । न व्यूहकल्पना कार्य्या राज्ञो भवति कर्हिंचित् ।। २३६.

He should establish three divisions for their protection; the arrangement of battle formations is never to be made by the king himself.

मूलच्छेदे विनाशः स्यान्न युध्येच्च स्वयन्नृपः । सैन्यस्य पश्चात्तिष्ठेत्तु क्रोशमात्रे महीपतिः ।। २३६.

If the root is cut, destruction follows; the king should not fight personally, but remain behind his army at a distance of a krosha.

भग्नसन्धारणं तत्र योधानां परिकीर्त्तितं । प्रधानभङ्गे सैन्यस्य नावस्थानं विधीयते ।। २३६.

There, the breaking of the main force of the warriors is described; when the principal part of the army is broken, no further stand can be made.

न संहतान्न विरलान्योधान् व्यूहे प्रकल्पयेत् । आयुधानान्तु सम्मर्द्दो यथा न स्यात् परस्परं ।। २३६.

He should not arrange warriors too densely nor too sparsely in the formation; so that their weapons do not clash with each other.

भेत्तुकामः परनीकं संहतैरेव भेदयेत् । भेदरक्ष्याः परेणापि कर्त्तव्याः संहतास्तथा ।। २३६.

One who wishes to break the enemy's ranks should do so with closely grouped troops; the enemy too must protect their close formations from being broken.

व्यूहं भेदावहं कुर्य्यात् परव्यूहेषु चेच्छया । गजस्य पादरक्षार्थाश्चत्वारस्तु तथा द्विज ।। २३६.

He should create a formation capable of breaking the enemy's formation at will; and, O twice-born, four guards are assigned for the protection of an elephant's feet.

रथस्य चाश्वाश्चत्वारः समास्तस्य च चर्म्मिणः । धन्विनश्चर्मिभिस्तुल्याः पुरस्ताच्चर्म्मिणो रणे ।। २३६.

For a chariot, four horses are to be harnessed, and its leather-covered warriors as well; archers are to be matched with leather-armored men, and in battle, leather-armored men should be placed in front.

वृष्ठतो धन्विनः पश्चाद्धन्विनान्तुरगा रथाः । रथानां कुञ्जराः पश्चाद्धातव्याः पृथिवीक्षिता ।। २३६.

Behind the archers should be more archers, then horses and chariots; behind the chariots, elephants are to be stationed by the ruler of the land.

पदातिकुञ्जराश्वनां धर्म्मकार्य्यं प्रयत्नतः । शूराः प्रमुखतो देयाः स्कन्धमात्रप्रदर्शनं ।। २३६.

The proper arrangement of foot soldiers, elephants, and horses must be made with care; brave men should be placed at the front, showing only their shoulders.

कर्त्तव्यं भीरुसङ्घेन शत्रुविद्रावकारकं । दारयन्ति पुरस्तात्तु न देया भीरवः पुरः ।। २३६.

A formation that causes the enemy to flee should be made with a group of timid men; those who are timid should not be placed at the front.

प्रोत्साहयन्त्येव रणे भीरून् शूगः पुरस्थिताः । प्रांशवः शुकनाशाश्च ये चाजिह्मेक्षणा२ नराः ।। २३६.

The brave who stand at the front in battle inspire the timid; tall men, those with broad shoulders, and those whose eyes do not shift are to be placed at the front.

संहतभ्रयुगाश्चैव क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः । नित्यहृष्टाः प्रहृष्टाश्च शूरा ज्ञेयाश्य कामिनः ।। २३६.

Those who are closely yoked together, quick to anger, fond of quarrels, always cheerful and delighted, and brave—these are to be known as desirous of battle.

प्रप्तियुद्धं गजानाञ्च तोयदानादिकश्च यत् ।। २३६.

The battle tactics for elephants, such as water supply and other needs, are described.

आयुधानयनं चैव पत्तिकर्म्मं विधीयते । रिपूणां भेत्तुकामानां स्वसैन्यस्य तु रक्षणं ।। २३६.

The movement of weapons and the duties of infantry are prescribed; for those wishing to break the enemy, and for the protection of one's own army.

भेदनं संहतानाञ्च चर्मिणां कर्म्म कीर्त्तिंतं । विमुखीकरणं युद्धे धन्विनां च तथोच्यते ।। २३६.

The task of breaking close formations of leather-armored men is described; and the turning away of archers in battle is also mentioned.

दूरापसरणं यानं सुहतस्य तथोच्यते । त्रासनं रिपुसैन्यानां रथकर्म्म तथोच्यते ।। २३६.

The act of retreating from a distance is said to be the duty of vehicles; frightening the enemy's army is said to be the task of chariots.

भेदनं संहतानाञच भेदानामपि संहतिः । प्राकारतोरणाट्टालद्रुमभङ्गश्च सद्‌गजे ।। २३६.

Breaking close formations, and the joining of broken groups, as well as the destruction of walls, gates, towers, and trees, are the tasks of elephants.

पत्तिभूर्विषमा ज्ञेया रथाश्वस्य तथा सभा । सकर्द्दमा च नागानां युद्धभूमिरुदाहृता ।। २३६.

The battlefield for infantry is to be understood as uneven ground; for chariots and horses, a level area; and for elephants, muddy terrain is declared as the place for battle.

एवं विरचितव्यूहः कृतपृष्ठदिवाकरः । तथानुलोपशुक्रार्किदिक्पालमृदुमारुताः ।। २३६.

Thus, the formation should be arranged, with the sun positioned behind; likewise, the guardians of the quarters should be placed according to the directions of Venus and the Sun, with gentle winds.

योधानुत्तेजयेत्सर्व्वान्नामगोत्रावदानतः । भोगप्राप्त्या च विजये स्वर्गप्राप्त्या मृतस्य च ।। २३६.

The warriors should be inspired, each by name and lineage, with the promise of enjoyment upon victory and heaven for those who fall.

जित्वारीन् भोगसम्प्राप्तिः मृतस्य च परा गतिः । निष्कृतिः स्वामिपिण्डस्य नास्ति युद्धसमा गतिः ।। २३६.

By conquering enemies, one attains enjoyment; for the fallen, there is the highest state. There is no expiation for a warrior's death equal to that found in battle.

शूराणां रक्तमायाति तेन पापन्त्यजन्ति ते । घातादिदुःखसहनं रणे तत् परमन्तपः ।। २३६.

The blood of heroes is shed, and by this they are freed from sin; enduring the pain of wounds and death in battle is their supreme austerity.

वराप्सरः सहस्राणि यान्ति शूरं रणे मृतं । स्वामी सुकृतमादत्ते भग्नानां विनिवर्त्तिनां ।। २३६.

Thousands of celestial nymphs go to greet the hero who dies in battle; the king receives the merit of those who return defeated.

ब्रह्महत्याफलं तेषां तथा प्रोक्तं पदे पदे । त्यक्त्वा सहायान् यो गच्छेद्देवास्तस्य विनष्टये ।। २३६.

It is said that the fruit of killing a Brahmin is incurred at every step by those who abandon their companions; the gods seek the destruction of such a one.