Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 9
Chapter 16 — बुद्धाद्यवतारकथनम्
Narration of Buddha and Other Incarnations
स्थापयिष्यति मर्यादां चातुर्वर्ण्ये यथोचिताम् आश्रमेषु च सर्वेषु प्रजाः सद्धर्मवर्त्मनि
sthāpayiṣyati maryādāṃ cāturvarṇye yathocitām āśrameṣu ca sarveṣu prajāḥ saddharmavartmani
وسيُقيم المَريادَا—أي الحدود والانضباط—على الوجه اللائق لنظام التشاتورفارنيا (الطبقات الأربع)، وكذلك في جميع الآشرَمات (مراحل الحياة)، موجّهًا الرعية إلى سبيل السدّهارما، الدارما الحقّة.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical of the Agni Purana narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Blueprint for social restoration: re-establish boundaries (maryādā), duties, and life-stage disciplines; apply as governance policy and personal dharma planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maryādā-sthāpana: Reordering Cāturvarṇya and Āśrama Dharma","lookup_keywords":["maryādā","cāturvarṇya","āśrama","rajadharma","saddharma-vartman"],"quick_summary":"The ruler restores dharmic order by setting proper limits and duties for varṇa and āśrama, guiding people onto the path of true dharma. It is a procedural ideal for governance and social ethics."}
Concept: Maryādā (right boundaries) sustains society; varṇa-āśrama duties are instruments to align prajā with saddharma.
Application: For rulers: fair law, role-appropriate education, protection of livelihoods; for individuals: choose āśrama duties conscientiously and practice svadharma with restraint.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Varna-Ashrama-Dharma (Governance and Social Order)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A restored kingdom: a just ruler promulgates laws; four varṇas perform their duties; the four āśramas are shown as life-stages—students learning, householders giving charity, forest-dwellers practicing austerity, renunciants meditating—society aligned to saddharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panoramic dharma-restoration: king on throne with dharma-banner, four varṇas in distinct activities, four āśramas in separate vignettes, harmonious palette and temple narrative layout","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central enthroned dharmic ruler with gold aura, surrounding medallions depicting brāhmaṇa teaching, kṣatriya protection, vaiśya trade, śūdra service; āśrama scenes in corners, rich gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: labeled quadrants for four āśramas and four varṇas, king establishing maryādā at center, delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, orderly court issuing edicts, bustling yet harmonious city scenes of professions, ascetics at garden edge, fine architectural detail and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यथोचिताम् = यथा + उचिताम् (स्वर-सन्धि); सद्धर्मवर्त्मनि = सत् + धर्म + वर्त्मनि (त् + ध → द्ध)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma/danda-niti sections; Agni Purana: Varna-ashrama and vrata/dharma discussions
FAQs
It imparts rāja-nīti/rajadharma guidance: the ruler’s practical duty is to enforce maryādā (regulated boundaries) for varṇa and āśrama conduct so society functions according to sat-dharma.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies governance and social ethics; this verse exemplifies its dharmaśāstra-like coverage of administration, social regulation, and public morality.
By establishing dharmic order and guiding subjects onto sat-dharma, the ruler supports collective merit (puṇya), reduces adharma-driven disorder, and upholds the conditions for righteous living and liberation-oriented practice.