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
অস্ত্রাগারে সে সদা সতর্ক থাকবে। প্রত্যেকের আচরণ ও জীবিকার উপায় জেনে, কে উত্তম, কে অধম, কে মধ্যম তা বুঝে রাজা তাদের কর্ম নির্ধারণ করবে।
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.