Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 66
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
अन्याये व्यसने युद्धे प्रवृत्तस्यानिवारणं उपेक्षेयं स्मृता भ्रातोपेक्षितश् च हिडिम्बया
anyāye vyasane yuddhe pravṛttasyānivāraṇaṃ upekṣeyaṃ smṛtā bhrātopekṣitaś ca hiḍimbayā
في حال الظلم أو الشدّة أو القتال، فإن عدم كفّ من اندفع إلى الفعل يُعَدّ «إهمالاً» مُؤاخَذاً عليه؛ ومثال ذلك أنّ أخاً أيضاً أُهمِلَ من قِبَل هيديمبا (Hiḍimbā).
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethics of responsibility: restrain rash action in injustice/calamity/battle; failure to intervene is culpable neglect—useful for counsel, command responsibility, and family duty.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Upekṣā as Culpable Neglect in Crisis (Anāyye–Vyasane–Yuddhe)","lookup_keywords":["upeksha","anivaranam","yuddha-dharma","vyasana","duty-to-restrain"],"quick_summary":"When someone rushes into harmful action amid injustice, calamity, or battle, not restraining them is defined as blameworthy neglect. The text cites Hiḍimbā’s neglect of a brother as an illustrative precedent."}
Alamkara Type: Dṛṣṭānta (illustrative example)
Concept: Omission can be sin: upekṣā (neglect) is culpable when one could restrain harmful action in crisis.
Application: In governance, family, and military contexts, establish intervention norms—counsel, restrain, and de-escalate; document responsibility to prevent ‘bystander’ failure.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Ethics of conduct, duty, and social responsibility)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tense scene of crisis: a warrior rushes toward battle or a reckless act; a brother/companion stands aside in neglect; a counselor points out the duty to restrain, with a remembered vignette of Hiḍimbā’s neglect.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural moral tableau: central figure rushing forward with dynamic posture, another figure turned away symbolizing upekṣā, a sage-like counselor gesturing admonition, strong outlines and symbolic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting ethical scene with gold-accented figures: impulsive warrior, restraining hand extended by a minister, negligent bystander in shadow, ornate border, didactic mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting instructional panel: three-part sequence—(1) injustice/calamity/battle setting, (2) attempt to restrain, (3) neglect labeled upekṣā; clean lines and explanatory layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with narrative split: foreground a rash advance toward conflict, background a bystander failing to stop him, a learned advisor gesturing; fine detail and expressive faces"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pravṛttasyānivāraṇaṃ → pravṛttasya anivāraṇam; bhrātopekṣitaś → bhrātā upekṣitaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Nīti discussions on duties of kin, ministers, and commanders (general)
FAQs
It imparts a niti (ethical-legal) principle: in injustice, disaster, or war, one bears fault if one does not restrain a person who has impulsively entered harmful action—this omission is categorized as upekṣā (culpable neglect).
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies practical dharma for society—here, a rule of responsibility in crisis and conflict, aligning the text with governance, ethics, and conduct literature (nīti/rajadharma).
The verse frames passive indifference during wrongdoing or crisis as a morally accountable act; karmically, failing to prevent harm when able is treated as a dharmic lapse comparable to neglecting one’s duty of protection and counsel.