Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 18
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
चक्षुष्मत्तां च शिल्पञ्च परीक्षेत गुणद्वयं स्वजनेभ्यो विजानीयात् कुलं स्थानमवग्रहं
cakṣuṣmattāṃ ca śilpañca parīkṣeta guṇadvayaṃ svajanebhyo vijānīyāt kulaṃ sthānamavagrahaṃ
দুটা গুণ—স্পষ্ট দৃষ্টি (তীক্ষ্ণ বিবেচনা) আৰু শিল্প/কৌশল—পৰীক্ষা কৰিব লাগে; আৰু স্বজনসকলৰ পৰা তাৰ কুল, স্থান-প্ৰতিষ্ঠা আৰু বিশ্বাসযোগ্যতা/পূৰ্বৰ ৰেকৰ্ড জানিব লাগে।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Screening and due diligence for appointments: test discernment and skill; verify lineage, status, and reliability through community/kin references.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Amātya/Sevaka Parīkṣā: Discernment, Skill, Lineage, Standing, Reliability","lookup_keywords":["parīkṣā","cakṣuṣmatā","śilpa","kula","avagraha"],"quick_summary":"Evaluate candidates for clear judgment and practical competence, and corroborate their background—family, social position, and trustworthiness—via their own circle."}
Concept: Pramāṇa in governance: direct assessment (qualities) plus social corroboration (background) to reduce risk and ensure dhārmic administration.
Application: Use structured interviews/tests for judgment and skills; conduct reference checks within the candidate’s community; document prior reliability before entrusting office.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, social ethics, examination of persons)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal examiner questions a candidate; scribes record; elders/kinsmen provide testimony about lineage and reliability; tools of craft indicate practical skill.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style court-verification scene; king’s officer assessing a candidate, elders of the clan gesturing in testimony, palm-leaf records, calm evaluative mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents on throne and ornaments; candidate presenting skills (tools/scrolls), elders behind, scribe with palm-leaf; emphasis on dignity and order","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic layout: panel showing two tests—discernment (questions/scroll) and skill (tools); side vignette of kinsmen attesting kula and standing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature administrative audition; detailed faces, patterned textiles; candidate before officials, witnesses from his community, meticulous record-keeping"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिल्पञ्च = शिल्पम् + च; स्थानमवग्रहम् = स्थानम् + अवग्रहम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma passages on selecting ministers and servants; Agni Purana: Vyavahāra sections on testimony/character assessment (where present)
FAQs
It teaches a practical Niti method of evaluation: test a person’s discernment and skill, and verify their background (lineage, standing, reliability) through those who know them.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied governance and social-ethical procedures—here, a due-diligence framework for appointments, alliances, or trust-based dealings.
Discernment and careful verification reduce unjust harm and wrongful association; acting with prudent judgment supports dharma and helps avoid karmic consequences arising from negligence or misplaced trust.