Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
कृतशीलश्चेति ज चिन्तको ज्ञाननिश् चय इति ग परीक्षेत गुणत्रयमिति ज प्रतिभां तथेति ज स्वजनेभ्य इत्य् आदिः, क्लेशसहिष्णुतामित्यन्तः पाठः छ पुस्तके नास्ति संवासिभ्यो बलं सत्त्वमारोग्यं शीलमेव च अस्तब्धतामचापल्यं वैराणां चाप्यकीर्तनं
kṛtaśīlaśceti ja cintako jñānaniś caya iti ga parīkṣeta guṇatrayamiti ja pratibhāṃ tatheti ja svajanebhya ity ādiḥ, kleśasahiṣṇutāmityantaḥ pāṭhaḥ cha pustake nāsti saṃvāsibhyo balaṃ sattvamārogyaṃ śīlameva ca astabdhatāmacāpalyaṃ vairāṇāṃ cāpyakīrtanaṃ
مِن الذين يُساكنهم المرء (الأصحاب المقرّبون) ينبغي أن يكتسب القوّة والشجاعة وصحّة البدن وحسن السيرة؛ وكذلك التواضع بلا كِبر والثبات بلا تذبذب—وحتى بين الأعداء فليكن على حالٍ لا يُتَداوَل ذكره بسوء (لا يصير ذا صيتٍ مذموم).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s didactic Nīti material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidelines for choosing/maintaining close associates (sahavasa) to build personal and political capital—health, morale, reputation control, and emotional steadiness; also a reputational tactic: avoid becoming a notorious target even among enemies.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Sahavasi-guna (Benefits from Close Associates) and Anti-notoriety","lookup_keywords":["sahavasa","guna-traya","arogya","astambha","akirti"],"quick_summary":"Live among people whose company strengthens body and mind—strength, courage, health, and good conduct—while cultivating humility and steadiness. Even in hostile circles, avoid actions that make one widely spoken-of in blame."}
Concept: Satsanga and self-restraint as instruments of welfare (bala, sattva, arogya, shila) and reputation-management (avoid akirti).
Application: Audit one’s inner circle; cultivate non-arrogance and consistency; minimize provocations that create lasting enmity or public infamy.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Qualities and conduct; social harmony and reputation-management)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prudent householder/minister observing companions in daily life—training in humility, steadiness, and discreet conduct; enemies in the background unable to find fault.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, a royal court veranda with a minister among calm companions, gestures of humility (namaskara), balanced posture, subdued palette, enemies watching from afar, emphasis on moral instruction.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure as wise minister with halo-like aureole, attendants representing strength/courage/health/character as symbolic objects (mace, lion, herbal pot, scripture), gold leaf detailing, enemies muted at edges.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: labeled virtues (bala, sattva, arogya, shila, astambha, achapalya) shown as icons around a composed figure, fine linework, soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate domestic-court scene with refined faces, the protagonist choosing companions, subtle depiction of gossiping enemies outside the frame, architectural detail and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse text contains extensive critical apparatus; analyzed the main readable segment: saṃvāsibhyo balaṃ sattvam ārogyam śīlam eva ca astabdhatām acāpalyaṃ vairāṇāṃ ca api akīrtanam. Sandhi: saṃvāsibhyo→saṃvāsibhyaḥ; sattvamārogyaṃ→sattvam ārogyam; śīlameva→śīlam eva; astabdhatāmacāpalyaṃ→astabdhatām acāpalyam; cāpyakīrtanaṃ→ca api akīrtanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Niti sections on amatyas, mitra-pariksha, and sadvritta (contextual); Agni Purana teachings on shila and kshama (contextual)
FAQs
It gives Nīti (practical ethics): choose and cultivate association that yields strength, courage, health, and character, while training humility and steadiness—and manage public reputation so even adversaries do not gain material for hostile talk.
Alongside ritual, cosmology, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves applied social science—Rajadharma/Nīti—covering leadership psychology, community life, and reputation as a strategic asset.
Right association and disciplined conduct reduce harmful speech and conflict, supporting sattva (clarity and virtue); this steadiness and humility are traditionally held to purify karma and stabilize dharmic living.