Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Ṣāḍguṇya — The Six Measures of Foreign Policy
with Rāja-maṇḍala Theory
विरक्तप्रकृतिश् चैव विषयेष्वतिशक्तिमान् अनेकचित्तमन्त्रश् च देवब्राह्मणनिन्दकः
viraktaprakṛtiś caiva viṣayeṣvatiśaktimān anekacittamantraś ca devabrāhmaṇanindakaḥ
هو بطبعه مُنصرفٌ (عن السلوك القويم)، ومع ذلك مُفرِطُ التعلّق بموضوعات الحواس؛ مشورته متقلّبة كثيرة الأهواء، وهو شاتمٌ للآلهة وللبراهمة.
Lord Agni (narrating the dharma-teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethical vetting of counselors and associates: avoid appointing or trusting those showing hypocrisy, sensual addiction, fickle counsel, and sacrilegious speech that destabilizes polity and dharma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Adharmic Character—Marks of the Unfit Counselor","lookup_keywords":["vishaya-asakti","aneka-citta","mantra","deva-brahmana-ninda"],"quick_summary":"A person may appear detached yet be enslaved to sense-objects; fickle, many-minded counsel and contempt for gods and brāhmaṇas are red flags. Such traits predict unreliability and social-religious disruption."}
Concept: Inner disposition (svabhava) and speech toward sacred institutions are governance-critical indicators of adharmic drift.
Application: Use behavioral signs—addiction patterns, inconsistency in advice, and contempt for dharma-bearers—to screen advisors and companions.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Sadachara (Ethics and Conduct; signs of adharmic character)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court scene where a seemingly austere man secretly indulges in luxuries; his speech splits into many tangled scrolls symbolizing fickle counsel; he points derisively toward a temple and a brāhmaṇa, while the king looks wary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic moral tableau—two-faced counselor with one side ascetic, other side indulgent; swirling speech ribbons; temple and brāhmaṇa figures at side; strong gestures and bold color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central king with gold arch; to one side the duplicitous counselor holding a rosary and a wine-cup; embossed gold highlights on ornaments; small shrine and brāhmaṇa depicted with dignified posture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic composition showing ‘bad counselor’ traits in panels—sense indulgence, fickle advice (multiple thought bubbles), and sacrilege; fine lines, soft colors, clear labeling feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate court intrigue—advisor whispering contradictory counsel to different courtiers; subtle satire; temple courtyard in background; refined detailing of expressions and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caiva = ca + eva; viṣayeṣv- = viṣayeṣu + (following vowel); anekacittamantraś = aneka-citta-mantraḥ; devabrāhmaṇanindakaḥ compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sadachara sections on durjana-lakshana and satpurusha-lakshana (contextual); Agni Purana Rajadharma on selecting ministers and testing loyalty
FAQs
It provides a dharma-ethical diagnostic: identifying an adhārmika by excessive attachment to sense-pleasures, unstable counsel, and reviling gods and brāhmaṇas—useful for self-assessment and for choosing trustworthy advisers/associates.
Alongside rituals and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also catalogs social-ethical norms; this verse functions like a concise characterology within its dharma material, showing the text’s coverage of governance-ready ethics and practical moral instruction.
It warns that indulgence, fickle intent, and devabrāhmaṇa-nindā are marks of adharma that corrode merit (puṇya) and obstruct spiritual progress, urging restraint, reverence, and steadiness of mind.