Agni Purana

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.

इन्द्र उवाच । नमस्ये सर्वलोकानां जननीमब्धिसम्भवां । श्रियमुन्निद्रपद्माक्षीं विष्णुवक्षःस्थलस्थितां ।। २३७.

Indra said: I bow to Śrī, mother of all worlds, born from the ocean, whose eyes are like blooming lotuses, who dwells upon the chest of Viṣṇu.

त्वं सिद्धिस्त्वं स्वधा स्वाहा सुधा त्वं लोकपावनि । सन्ध्या रात्रिः प्रभा भूतिर्म्मेधा श्रद्धा सरस्वती ।। २३७.

You are success, you are the sacrificial oblations, you are the sacred exclamation, you are nectar, purifier of the worlds; you are twilight, night, radiance, prosperity, intelligence, faith, and Sarasvatī.

यज्ञविद्या महाविद्या गुह्यविद्या च शोभने । आत्मविद्या च देवि त्वं विमुक्तिफलदायिनी ।। २३७.

O beautiful one, you are the knowledge of sacrifice, the supreme knowledge, the secret knowledge, and the knowledge of the self, O goddess, bestower of the fruit of liberation.

आन्वीक्षिकी त्रयी वार्त्ता दण्डनीतिस्त्वमेव च । सौम्या सौम्यैर्जगद्रूपैस्त्वयैतद्देवि पूरितं ।। २३७.

You alone are inquiry, the threefold Veda, commerce, and governance; O gentle goddess, with your gentle forms you fill this entire world.

का त्वन्या त्वामृते देवि सर्वयज्ञमयं वपुः । अध्यास्ते देव देवस्य योगिचिन्त्यं गदाभृतः ।। २३७.

O goddess, who else but you possesses the form composed of all sacrifices, which is contemplated by yogis and is the body of the mace-bearing Lord of gods?

त्वया देवि परित्यक्तं सकलं भुवनत्रयं । विनष्टप्रायमभवत् त्वयेदानीं समेधितं ।। २३७.

O goddess, when you abandoned it, the entire three worlds nearly perished; now, by your presence, they are flourishing again.

दाराः पुत्रास्तथागारं सुहृद्धान्यघनादिकं । भवत्येतन्महाभागो नित्यं त्वद्वीक्षणान् नृणां ।। २३७.

Wives, sons, houses, friends, grain, wealth, and the like—these blessings come always to people of great fortune through your glance, O goddess.

शरीरारोग्यमैश्वर्यमरिपक्षक्षयः सुखं । देवि त्वद्‌दृष्टिदृष्टानां पुरुषाणां न दुर्ल्लभं ।। २३७.

Health of body, prosperity, destruction of enemies, and happiness—none of these are difficult to obtain for those men who are seen by your gaze, O goddess.

त्वमम्बा सर्वभूतानां देवदेवो हरिः पिता । त्वयैतद्विष्णुना चाम्ब जगद्व्याप्तं चराचरं ।। २३७.

You are the mother of all beings, and Hari, the god of gods, is their father; O mother, with Vishnu, you pervade this entire world, both moving and unmoving.

मानं कोषं तथा कोष्ठं मा गृहं मा परिच्छदं । मा शरीरं कलत्रञ्च त्यजेथाः सर्व्वपावनि ।। २३७.

Do not abandon honor, wealth, storehouses, house, possessions, body, or spouse, O purifier of all.