Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 25
Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः
Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure
पैशून्यं साहसं द्रोह ईर्ष्यासूयार्थदूषणम् वाग्दण्डश् चैव पारुष्यं क्रोधजो ऽपि गणो ऽष्टकः
paiśūnyaṃ sāhasaṃ droha īrṣyāsūyārthadūṣaṇam vāgdaṇḍaś caiva pāruṣyaṃ krodhajo 'pi gaṇo 'ṣṭakaḥ
পৈশুন্য (চুগলি), সাহস (অবিবেকী হিংসা), দ্ৰোহ, ঈৰ্ষ্যা, অসূয়া, পৰৰ উদ্দেশ্য দুষণ কৰা, বাক্-দণ্ড, আৰু কঠোৰ বাক্য—ই ক্রোধজাত অষ্ট দোষৰ গোট।
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Use the eight anger-born faults as a behavioral audit for leadership and governance; design penalties, counseling, and training to prevent escalation into violence, factionalism, and injustice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Krodhaja-doṣāḥ (Faults born of anger)","lookup_keywords":["krodhaja doṣa","paiśūnya","sāhasa","droha","vākdaṇḍa pāruṣya"],"quick_summary":"An eightfold taxonomy of anger-driven misconduct (backbiting, rash violence, treachery, envy, verbal cruelty) used to diagnose and correct destructive social and political behavior."}
Concept: Krodha corrupts judgment and speech, producing social harm (paiśūnya, pāruṣya) and political betrayal (droha); dharma requires mastery over anger.
Application: Institute norms: truthful and gentle speech, due process before punishment, conflict mediation, and accountability for treachery and slander.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Ethics of conduct; classification of vices/inner enemies)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A moral instruction scene: a teacher-minister shows eight anger-born faults to a king; surrounding vignettes depict backbiting, rash assault, treachery, envy, spiteful disparagement, twisting motives, verbal punishment, and harsh speech.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king and minister in profile, palm-leaf manuscript; eight small panels with expressive faces showing gossip, quarrel, betrayal handshake, jealous glare, accusatory pointing; bold outlines, earthy reds and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore gold-work painting, central royal court with a 'krodhaja aśṭaka' scroll; gilded frame; inset roundels of quarrel and harsh speech; ornate jewelry and halos.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional composition with labeled scenes; emphasis on facial expressions of anger and restraint; fine brushwork, muted elegance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature court with marginal scenes: whispering courtiers, sudden sword-draw, secret letter of betrayal, heated argument; intricate architecture and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाग्दण्डश् → वाग्दण्डः (visarga before ca); चैव → च + एव; ऽपि → अपि; ऽष्टकः → अष्टकः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma discussions on daṇḍa (punishment) and ministerial ethics; Agni Purana: Mokṣadharma passages on krodha-tyāga (abandoning anger)
FAQs
It provides an ethical taxonomy: an eightfold list of anger-born faults (krodhaja-doṣas) used for self-discipline and governance-oriented conduct (Rajadharma).
Beyond ritual and mythology, the Agni Purana systematizes practical knowledge—here, moral psychology and civic ethics—by classifying specific behavioral vices (speech harms, betrayal, envy) into a structured list.
By identifying anger’s concrete outputs (slander, verbal cruelty, treachery), the verse directs restraint of speech and intent, reducing harmful karma and supporting purification through disciplined conduct.