Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 3
Adhyaya 223 — Rājadharmāḥ
Royal Duties: Inner Palace Governance, Trivarga Protection, Courtly Conduct, and Aromatic/Hygienic Sciences
कामाधीनाः स्त्रियो राम तदर्थं रत्नसङ्ग्रहः सेव्यास्ता नातिसेव्याश् च भूभुजा विषयैषिणा
kāmādhīnāḥ striyo rāma tadarthaṃ ratnasaṅgrahaḥ sevyāstā nātisevyāś ca bhūbhujā viṣayaiṣiṇā
«إن النساء خاضعات لسلطان الكامَة (الشهوة)، يا راما؛ ومن أجلهن يُكنَزُ الجواهر. وللملك الطالب للمتع الدنيوية أن يخالطهن، ولكن لا ينبغي له الإفراط في الاستمتاع».
Lord Agni (instructing a royal addressee framed as ‘Rāma’ within nīti/rajadharma counsel)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Court ethics and risk-management: regulate royal indulgence, prevent fiscal drain and political vulnerability arising from uncontrolled sensuality and luxury expenditure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Regulation of Royal Indulgence: Consort, Do Not Overindulge","lookup_keywords":["kāma","ratna-saṅgraha","rājā","ati-sevā","viṣaya-eṣin"],"quick_summary":"The verse warns that desire can drive luxury hoarding and excess. A king may engage in pleasures but must avoid overindulgence to preserve judgment, treasury, and stability."}
Concept: Indriya-nigraha (restraint of senses) as a prerequisite for rulership; kāma must be bounded by prudence.
Application: Set personal limits, avoid compulsive luxury spending, and maintain impartiality in household relations to prevent corruption and factional capture.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Guidance for Kings and Worldly Governance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in a jeweled chamber with heaps of gems; a sage cautions him, gesturing toward a balanced scale showing ‘kāma’ and ‘rājadharma’, implying moderation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, palace interior with jewel chests, king seated, sage admonishing with raised hand, symbolic balance scale, stylized attendants, restrained yet vivid palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, opulent jewel hoard with gold-leaf sparkle, king and sage in profile, ornate arch, moralizing gesture of restraint, rich textiles","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic court scene: king reaching toward jewels, sage stopping him, clear facial expressions, minimal background clutter, emphasis on instruction","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed treasury room with gemstones, sage advising king, attendants holding trays, subtle narrative tension, fine ornament and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sevyāstā→sevyāḥ tāḥ; nātisevyāś→na ati-sevyāḥ; viṣayaiṣiṇā→viṣaya-eṣiṇā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Nīti sections on indriya-jaya, treasury protection, and avoidance of vyasana (vices)
FAQs
It imparts rāja-nīti (statecraft/ethical governance) focused on regulating kāma (desire): a ruler may engage in worldly relations but must avoid excess that destabilizes judgment and administration.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical governance literature (rajadharma/nīti), offering behavioral policy for rulers—showing its wide scope across dharma, politics, and social conduct.
Moderation (niyama) in sense-enjoyment is presented as protective of dharma: restraint reduces attachment-driven actions that generate adverse karma and helps a king uphold righteous rule.