Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 10
Sahāya-sampattiḥ (Securing Support/Allies): Royal Appointments, Court Offices, Spies, and Personnel Ethics
जाग्रत्स्यादायुधागारे ज्ञात्वा वृत्तिर्विधीयते उत्तमाधममध्यानि बुद्ध्वा कर्माणि पार्थिवः
jāgratsyādāyudhāgāre jñātvā vṛttirvidhīyate uttamādhamamadhyāni buddhvā karmāṇi pārthivaḥ
অস্ত্ৰাগাৰত তেওঁ সদা সজাগ থাকিব লাগে। প্ৰত্যেকৰ আচৰণ আৰু জীৱিকাৰ উপায় জানি, কোন উত্তম, কোন অধম, কোন মধ্যম সেয়া বুজি ৰজাই কৰ্ম নিৰ্ধাৰণ কৰিব।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Armoury security and personnel management: continuous vigilance, background assessment (conduct and livelihood), and graded assignment of duties based on capability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āyudhāgāra-jāgaraṇa and graded duty assignment","lookup_keywords":["āyudhāgāra","vigilance","conduct assessment","livelihood verification","uttama madhyama adhama"],"quick_summary":"Maintain vigilance in the armoury; verify each person’s conduct and means of livelihood, then assign tasks by classifying personnel as excellent, middling, or inferior."}
Weapon Type: Bow, sword, spear and stored armaments (armoury context)
Concept: Pramāṇa-based governance: decisions grounded in verified character (vṛtti/ācāra) and competence gradation.
Application: Implement vetting (background checks), role-based access control, and competency tiers for sensitive assets (weapons, data, treasury).
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guarded armoury with racks of bows, swords, shields; the king or chief officer inspecting, scribes noting conduct records; guards posted, controlled entry, and personnel lined by rank (excellent/middling/inferior).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, armoury hall with stylized weapon racks, vigilant guards with lamps, king/officer pointing to registers, three groups of workers separated by posture and attire, strong reds and greens, disciplined atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, royal figure before ornate armoury doors, gold-leaf weapon motifs, attendants holding ledgers, guards with spears, hierarchical grouping of personnel, luminous ceremonial vigilance","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional layout of armoury management: weapon racks, watch-post, register table, officer evaluating men in three tiers, soft colors and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed armoury interior with patterned carpets, weapon stands, officer examining a man’s credentials, guards at doorway, three-tiered personnel arrangement, meticulous realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जाग्रत्स्याद् = जाग्रत् + स्यात्; वृत्तिर्विधीयते = वृत्तिः + विधीयते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma passages on guards, spies, and protection of treasury/armoury; Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections on weapons and readiness
FAQs
It teaches administrative statecraft: the king must maintain security oversight of the armoury and allocate offices/duties only after assessing people’s conduct, livelihood, and competence level (excellent/average/inferior).
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies practical governance—security management, personnel evaluation, and assignment of responsibilities—showing its coverage of political science (rāja-nīti) as part of Puranic instruction.
Right appointment of duties and vigilant protection of public resources are aspects of rājadharma; when performed without negligence or favoritism, they uphold order (dharma) and generate merit for the ruler through just governance.