Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Chapter 237 — Rāma’s Teaching on Nīti (रामोक्तनीतिः)
गृहागते परिष्वङ्गः शक्त्या दानं सहिष्णुता स्वसमृद्धिष्वनुत्सेकः परवृद्धिष्वमत्सरः
gṛhāgate pariṣvaṅgaḥ śaktyā dānaṃ sahiṣṇutā svasamṛddhiṣvanutsekaḥ paravṛddhiṣvamatsaraḥ
معانقةُ من يَفِدُ إلى البيت، وإيتاءُ الصدقة بحسب الطاقة، والحِلمُ والصبر، وتركُ الكِبر عند رخاء النفس، وتركُ الحسد عند ترقّي الغير—هذه فضائلُ ينبغي تهذيب النفس عليها.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s instructional narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Household and civic virtues: hospitality, proportionate charity, patience, humility in success, and non-envy—useful for community harmony and leadership character.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Gṛhastha-sadācāra (Householder virtues)","lookup_keywords":["gṛhāgata-pariṣvaṅga","dāna yathā-śakti","sahiṣṇutā","an-utseka","a-matsara"],"quick_summary":"Cultivate hospitality, capacity-based giving, forbearance, humility in prosperity, and freedom from envy at others’ advancement."}
Concept: Gṛhastha-dharma and social ethics: generosity without strain, humility without self-abasement, and non-envy as inner discipline.
Application: Adopt as daily vows: greet guests warmly, set a fixed charity budget, practice patience, and consciously counter envy with appreciation.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Sadachara (Ethics of conduct and virtuous behavior)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder embraces a guest at the doorway, offers measured charity, remains calm under provocation, stays humble amid wealth, and congratulates a rival’s success without envy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, domestic threshold scene: guest welcomed with embrace, offering of water and seat, charity box nearby, calm face amid a quarrel scene in background, rich traditional costumes, decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold work: central gṛhastha couple welcoming a guest, gold-highlighted vessels for dāna, serene expressions, symbolic motifs of humility (lowered gaze) and non-envy (offering garland to another).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, sequential vignette panels: (1) embrace guest, (2) give alms according to capacity, (3) patient endurance, (4) humility in prosperity, (5) rejoicing at another’s rise; fine outlines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed household courtyard with guests, servants distributing alms, a wealthy man modestly seated, another noble being honored while the protagonist smiles without jealousy; intricate textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gṛha-āgate → gṛhāgate (a + ā → ā); sva-samṛddhiṣu anutsekaḥ → svasamṛddhiṣv anutsekaḥ (u + a); para-vṛddhiṣu amatsaraḥ → paravṛddhiṣv amatsaraḥ (u + a).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 237 (sadācāra lists); Agni Purana 238 (rājadharma: king’s personal virtues as basis of rule)
FAQs
It imparts practical sadācāra: welcoming guests affectionately, giving within one’s means, practicing forbearance, remaining humble in one’s own prosperity, and avoiding jealousy toward others.
Alongside ritual, cosmology, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves applied social ethics (rajadharma/sadācāra), detailing everyday virtues that sustain household life and civic harmony.
Hospitality, charity, patience, humility, and non-envy are merit-producing virtues that purify intention, reduce ego-driven karma, and support dharmic living in the household stage.