Agni Purana

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.

अश्वमेधफलं प्रोक्तं शूराणामनिवर्त्तिनां । धर्म्मनिष्ठे जयो राज्ञि योद्धव्याश्च समाः समैः ।। २३६.

It is declared that the fruit of a horse sacrifice is gained by heroes who do not turn back; victory belongs to the king who is steadfast in righteousness, and equals should fight equals.

गजाद्यैश्च गजाद्याश्च न हन्तव्याः पलायिनः । न प्रेक्षकाः प्रविष्टाश्च अशस्त्राः पतितादयः ।। २३६.

Elephants and others like them, as well as those who flee, spectators, those who have entered, the unarmed, and the fallen—these must not be killed.

शान्ते निद्राभिभूते च अर्द्धोत्तीर्णे नदीवने । दुर्द्दिने कूटयुद्धानि शत्रुनाशार्थमाचरेत् ।। २३६.

When the enemy is calm, overcome by sleep, half-crossed rivers or forests, or during difficult weather, one should undertake deceptive warfare for the destruction of the foe.

बाहू प्रगृह्य विक्रोशेद्भग्ना भग्नाः परे इति। प्राप्तं मित्रं बलं भूरि नायकोऽत्र निपातितः ।। २३६.

Grasping their arms, they should loudly proclaim, 'We are broken, we are broken by the others!' If a friend or great force arrives, the leader here is struck down.

सेनानीर्निहतश्चायं भूपतिश्चापि विप्लुतः । विद्रुतानान्तु योधानां सुखं धातो विधीयते ।। २३६.

The commander is slain, and the king is also routed; for the warriors who have fled, a safe retreat is arranged.

धूपश्च देया धर्म्मज्ञ तथा च परमोहनाः । पताकाश्चैव सम्भारो वादित्राणां भयावहः ।। २३६.

Incense should be offered, O knower of righteousness, as well as powerful charms; flags and the equipment of musical instruments that inspire fear.

सम्प्राप्य विजयं युद्धे देवान्विप्रांश्च संयजेत् । रत्नानि राजगामीनि अमात्येन कृते रणे ।। २३६.

Having achieved victory in battle, one should perform offerings to the gods and Brahmins; the jewels and royal treasures gained in war are to be distributed by the minister.

तस्य स्त्रियो न कस्यापि रक्ष्यास्ताश्च परस्य च । शत्रुं प्राप्य रणे मुक्तं पुत्रवत् परिपालयेत् ।। २३६.

The women of the defeated should not be harmed, nor those of the victor; having captured the enemy in battle, one should protect him as a son.

पुनस्तेन न योद्धव्यं देशाचारादि पालयेत् । ततश्च स्वपुरं प्राप्य ध्रुवे भे प्रविशेद् गृहं ।। २३६.

One should not fight again with him; the customs of the land should be observed. Then, having reached his own city, he should certainly enter his house.

पुष्कर उवाच राज्यलक्ष्मीस्थिरत्वाय यथेन्द्रेण पुरा श्रियः । स्तुतिः कृता तथा राजा जयार्थं स्तुतिमाचरेत् ।। २३७.

Puṣkara said: For the stability of royal fortune, just as Indra once composed a hymn to Śrī, so too should the king recite a hymn for victory.