Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 10
Adhyaya 222 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharmāḥ): Duties of Kings (Administrative Order, Protection, and Revenue Ethics
अरक्षिताः प्रजा यस्य नरकं तस्य मन्दिरं राजा षड्भागमादत्ते सुकृताद्दुष्कृतादपि
arakṣitāḥ prajā yasya narakaṃ tasya mandiraṃ rājā ṣaḍbhāgamādatte sukṛtādduṣkṛtādapi
যে রাজার প্রজা অরক্ষিত থাকে, তার জন্য নরকই বাসস্থান হয়। রাজা প্রজার পুণ্য ও পাপ—উভয় থেকেই ষষ্ঠাংশ গ্রহণ করে।
Lord Agni (in instruction on rajadharma, addressed to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Frames state accountability: the king’s legitimacy and fiscal right (one-sixth share) depend on providing protection; negligence creates moral and political liability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Rājā’s ṣaḍbhāga and karmic liability for protection","lookup_keywords":["ṣaḍbhāga","rājadharma","rakṣaṇa","pāpa-puṇya-bhāga","prājā-anurakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"The king’s right to a one-sixth share is conditioned by protection of subjects; failure makes him share in their demerit and leads to hellish consequence."}
Concept: Adhikāra (right to tax/sovereignty) arises from rakṣaṇa; the ruler participates in subjects’ karma proportionate to his duty.
Application: Design governance metrics: protection/justice as prerequisite for taxation; codify negligence penalties for officials and ruler.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Law, and Kingly Duty)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king on the throne with subjects seeking protection; a symbolic scale showing one-sixth tax; a shadowy hell realm behind the negligent king.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, frontal crowned king in royal court, villagers with folded hands, stylized flames of naraka in background, flat warm palette, ornate borders, didactic composition about rakṣaṇa and ṣaḍbhāga.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated king with halo-like arch, gold-leaf embellishment on throne and treasury chest marked ‘1/6’, contrasting dark panel of naraka behind, devotional-didactic tone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework court scene, minister presenting tax ledger showing one-sixth, subjects protected by guards, inset vignette of hell for negligence, instructional caption-like layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar with accountants and petitioners, marginal vignette of infernal scene, emphasis on administration and moral consequence, delicate textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"admonitory","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sukṛtādduṣkṛtādapi → sukṛtāt + duṣkṛtāt + api; ṣaḍbhāgamādatte → ṣaḍbhāgam + ādatte.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Nīti sections on taxation (kara), daṇḍa, and rakṣaṇa duties; Agni Purana Dana-vidhi passages linking wealth to dharma
FAQs
It imparts rajadharma: the king’s practical duty is protection of subjects; taxation (the ‘one-sixth share’) is justified only when protection is ensured, otherwise the ruler incurs karmic liability.
It treats political ethics and legal theory—linking governance (security, taxation) with karmic accounting—showing how the Agni Purana functions as a compendium not only of ritual but also of statecraft and social order.
Because a king benefits from subjects’ merit through rightful rule, he also shares their demerit when he fails to protect them; neglect of protection is presented as a direct cause of hellish consequence for the ruler.