Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Adhyaya 222 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharmāḥ): Duties of Kings (Administrative Order, Protection, and Revenue Ethics
कोषे प्रवेशयेदर्धं नित्यञ्चार्धं द्विजे ददेत् निधिं द्विजोत्तमः प्राप्य गृह्णीयात्सकलं तथा
koṣe praveśayedardhaṃ nityañcārdhaṃ dvije dadet nidhiṃ dvijottamaḥ prāpya gṛhṇīyātsakalaṃ tathā
يُودَع نصفه في الخزانة، ويُعطى النصف الآخر على الدوام لبرهمن. وكذلك فإن البرهمن الأسمى إذا عثر على كنزٍ مدفون جاز له أن يأخذه كلَّه.
Lord Agni (in dialogue teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Gives a rule for allocation of found wealth/treasure: split between state treasury and brahminical charity; also states an exception/privilege for a foremost brāhmaṇa finding treasure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nidhi (treasure) disposition: kośa deposit and dāna; brāhmaṇa’s claim","lookup_keywords":["nidhi","kośa","dāna-vidhi","ardha","brāhmaṇa adhikāra"],"quick_summary":"A normative rule assigns half of discovered wealth to the treasury and half to continual gifting to a brāhmaṇa; a distinguished brāhmaṇa who finds a treasure may take it wholly."}
Concept: Wealth is to be ritually and socially purified through kośa (public good) and dāna (merit); special adhikāra is accorded to exemplary brāhmaṇas.
Application: Codify rules for found property/treasure: public deposit, charitable allocation, and defined exceptions; reduce disputes by clear entitlement norms.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dana-vidhi (Governance, Law, and Charity)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A discovered treasure chest; an official placing half into the royal treasury while a donor offers the other half to a brāhmaṇa; alternatively, a revered brāhmaṇa receiving the whole treasure as an exception.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, treasure chest opened with coins, one stream to a palace kośa room, another to a seated brāhmaṇa receiving dāna, ritual purity cues, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gleaming treasure with gold-leaf coins, ornate treasury chest, brāhmaṇa with palm-leaf scripture receiving gifts, rich decorative borders emphasizing dāna.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear step-by-step allocation scene with labels ‘kośa’ and ‘dāna’, calm figures, fine detailing of coins, measures, and respectful offering posture.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene of treasure discovery, accountants counting and dividing, brāhmaṇa recipient seated on carpet, architectural treasury backdrop, documentary realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"normative-instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nityañcārdhaṃ → nityam + ca + ardham; gṛhṇīyātsakalaṃ → gṛhṇīyāt + sakalam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dāna-vidhi sections on merit of gifting and proper recipients; Agni Purana Rajadharma passages on kośa management and lawful revenue
FAQs
It prescribes a practical rule for handling discovered wealth: allocate a portion to the state treasury (koṣa) and a portion as charitable giving (dāna) to a brāhmaṇa, while also stating an exception/privilege for a foremost brāhmaṇa regarding a found treasure.
Beyond mythology, it records normative guidance on public finance and wealth-allocation—topics of polity (rājadharma), legal procedure (vyavahāra), and charity (dāna)—showing the text’s wide coverage of governance and social ethics.
By directing wealth toward public support (treasury) and meritorious giving (dāna), the verse frames possession and redistribution of riches as a dharmic act that purifies acquisition and generates religious merit (puṇya).