Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
Sahāya-sampattiḥ (Securing Support/Allies): Royal Appointments, Court Offices, Spies, and Personnel Ethics
रत्नादिज्ञो धनाध्यक्षः अनुद्वारे हितो नरः स्यादायुर्वेदविद्वैद्यो गजध्यक्षो ऽथ हयादिवित्
ratnādijño dhanādhyakṣaḥ anudvāre hito naraḥ syādāyurvedavidvaidyo gajadhyakṣo 'tha hayādivit
من كان خبيراً بالجواهر وما شابهها يُعيَّن مشرفاً على الخزانة؛ وعند الباب الداخلي يُقام رجلٌ موثوقٌ حسنُ النية. والطبيب ينبغي أن يكون عالماً بالأيورفيدا؛ وكذلك مشرفُ الفيلة يجب أن يكون خبيراً، وكذا العارفُ بالخيول وما يتصل بها.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Rajadharma-arthashastra portion)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Administrative staffing: appoint a gem-assessing treasurer, a trustworthy inner-gate officer, a physician trained in Ayurveda, and specialized superintendents for elephants and horses to maintain fiscal integrity, security, and military readiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Key State Officers: Treasury, Inner Gate, Physician, Elephant and Horse Superintendents","lookup_keywords":["dhanadhyaksha ratnajna","anudvara","ayurvedavid vaidya","gajadhyaksha","hayadivit"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates essential officers: a treasury head skilled in gems/valuables, a reliable inner-gate official, an Ayurveda-trained physician, and expert chiefs for elephants and horses."}
Concept: Specialized knowledge (ratna-pariksha, Ayurveda, gaja/haya-vidya) is a prerequisite for office; dharma is protected through competence.
Application: Use domain qualification standards for appointments: valuation skills for treasury, vetted loyalty for inner security, certified medical expertise for healthcare, and technical mastery for animal corps.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Arthashastra (State administration and officers)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A state office montage: treasurer examining gems and coins; a loyal inner-gate guard at a secured doorway; an Ayurveda physician with herbs and texts; elephant and horse superintendents inspecting animals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: four-panel palace scene—ratna-pariksha at treasury, inner gate with guarded arch, vaidya holding palm-leaf Ayurveda text and herb bundle, gajadhyaksha beside caparisoned elephant and hayadhyaksha with a bridled horse; bold lines, flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: opulent treasury with gold accents; treasurer weighing gems; physician with ornate manuscript; elephant and horse with decorative trappings; gold leaf on jewelry and pillars.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of officers and tools—gem scale, gate keys/seals, Ayurveda text and mortar-pestle, elephant goad and horse tack; delicate shading and clarity of objects.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: realistic gem-testing table, guarded inner doorway, physician preparing a decoction, and animal inspection in a stable courtyard; fine architectural detail and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यात्+आयुर्वेदविद्वैद्यः→स्यादायुर्वेदविद्वैद्यः; गजाध्यक्षः+अथ→गजध्यक्षो 'थ (अ+अ→आ, क्+अ→ग्ध्य/ध्यक्ष-रूपेण पाठभेदः)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda-related chapters (vaidya qualifications, therapies); Agni Purana Dhanurveda/army organization passages on elephants and horses
FAQs
It specifies domain-competence for key offices—treasury management via gem/valuables expertise, gate security via loyal personnel, medical care via Ayurveda-trained physicians, and specialized animal departments for elephants and horses.
It integrates practical state administration with technical sciences (Ayurveda and animal-management), showing the Purana’s scope beyond ritual into governance, public health, and military-logistics support (elephants and cavalry).
By urging competent and ethical appointments, it promotes dharmic kingship—reducing harm, preventing corruption, and supporting welfare—actions traditionally framed as merit-producing (puṇya) through just governance.