Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Duties outside the Varṇa Order (वर्णेतरधर्माः) — Agni Purana, Chapter 151
भक्तिश् च नृपतौ नित्यं तथा सच्छास्त्रनेत्रता आनृशंष्यन्तितिक्षा च तथा चास्तिक्यमेव च
bhaktiś ca nṛpatau nityaṃ tathā sacchāstranetratā ānṛśaṃṣyantitikṣā ca tathā cāstikyameva ca
وكذلك الوفاء الدائم للملك؛ وأن يكون المرء مستنيرًا بالشرائع الصحيحة (شاسترا)؛ والرحمة؛ والحِلم والصبر؛ وأيضًا الإيمان بسلطان الفيدا ومرجعيتها (آستِكْيا).
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guides civic ethics: loyalty to legitimate rulership, governance aligned with śāstra, compassion and forbearance in public life, and āstikya as a stabilizing worldview for law and policy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rāja-bhakti and Śāstra-netṛtva: Virtues for Subjects and Governance","lookup_keywords":["rāja-bhakti","śāstra-netṛtva","ānṛśaṃsya","titikṣā","āstikya"],"quick_summary":"Promotes stable polity through loyalty to the king, scriptural guidance in decision-making, compassion, patience, and affirmation of Vedic authority—virtues applicable to rulers, ministers, and citizens."}
Concept: Political order is dharma-supported: śāstra-guided vision (netṛtva) tempers power with compassion and patience; āstikya grounds legitimacy and moral restraint.
Application: In administration: consult śāstra/ethical codes before policy; practice proportional mercy; cultivate patience under provocation; maintain public trust through principled adherence to dharma.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Kingship, ethics of rulership, and ministerial virtues)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king on the throne receiving counsel from śāstra-knowing ministers; subjects showing loyalty; the king demonstrating compassion and forbearance in judgment, with a visible manuscript of śāstra nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal court with king seated, ministers holding palm-leaf śāstra, petitioner before the throne; king’s hand raised in compassionate gesture; strong outlines, warm pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal king with gold-embossed throne and halo-like arch, ministers presenting a scripture; scene of merciful judgment; heavy gold work and rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, governance instruction scene: king, minister pointing to śāstra text, orderly court; fine lines, soft shading, minimal gold accents.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, durbar scene with detailed carpets and pillars, king listening to counsel, scribe with manuscript; a petitioner forgiven; intricate border and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhaktiś ca → bhaktiḥ ca; sacchāstranetratā → sat-śāstra-netratā; ānṛśaṃṣyantitikṣā → ānṛśaṃsyam titikṣā; tathā cāstikyam eva → tathā āstikyam eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma materials (within Dharma-kāṇḍa)
FAQs
It imparts Rajadharma-vidya: practical governance ethics—loyalty to the ruler, decision-making guided by authoritative śāstra, and personal virtues (compassion, forbearance, āstikya) expected in state functionaries.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana systematizes civic life and polity; this verse is a compact checklist of administrative virtues, showing the text’s coverage of statecraft alongside other disciplines.
By grounding governance in śāstra, compassion, and āstikya, the verse frames public duty as dharma; such conduct is presented as merit-bearing (puṇya) and as reducing harm (hiṃsā) and injustice in society.