Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 1
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे सामाद्युपायो नाम पञ्चविंशत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ षड्विंशत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः राजधर्माः पुष्कर उवाच दण्डप्रणयनं वक्ष्ये येन राज्ञः परा गतिः त्रियवं कृष्णलं विद्धि पापस्तत्पञ्चकं भवेत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe sāmādyupāyo nāma pañcaviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣaḍviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ rājadharmāḥ puṣkara uvāca daṇḍapraṇayanaṃ vakṣye yena rājñaḥ parā gatiḥ triyavaṃ kṛṣṇalaṃ viddhi pāpastatpañcakaṃ bhavet
এভাবে অগ্নি মহাপুরাণে ‘সামাদি উপায়’ নামক ২২৫তম অধ্যায় সমাপ্ত। এখন ‘রাজধর্ম’ বিষয়ক ২২৬তম অধ্যায় আরম্ভ। পুষ্কর বললেন—আমি দণ্ডপ্রণয়ন বলছি, যার দ্বারা রাজার পরম গতি হয়। ‘ত্রিয়ব’কে ‘কৃষ্ণল’ সমান জানো; পাপজনিত অপরাধে দণ্ড তার পাঁচগুণ হয়।
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Standardize punishments and fines using recognized weight/seed measures; apply enhanced penalties for pāpa (sinful/serious offences) to deter crime and uphold order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daṇḍa-praṇayana and Fine Multipliers (Triyava–Kṛṣṇala; Fivefold for Sin)","lookup_keywords":["daṇḍa-praṇayana","triyava","kṛṣṇala","pañcaguṇa-daṇḍa","rājadharma"],"quick_summary":"The king’s path is secured by properly laid punishments; fines are anchored to seed-weight units (triyava/kṛṣṇala) and aggravated offences incur fivefold penalty."}
Concept: Daṇḍa (punishment) is a dharmic instrument when measured, standardized, and proportionate; aggravated wrongdoing warrants multiplied penalty.
Application: Codify offences with calibrated fines; ensure transparent measures and consistent multipliers for severity.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, law, punishment, statecraft)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Puṣkara instructs on royal punishments; a scribe records fines while seed-weights (kṛṣṇala) and balance scales are displayed; a chart shows fivefold penalties for grave offences.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, teaching scene with sage Puṣkara gesturing, king seated respectfully, large stylized balance scale and guñjā seeds, bold outlines, minimal depth, didactic arrangement.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, royal court with gold-embossed throne and parasol, sage presenting a palm-leaf ‘law’ text, gold-highlighted scales and seed measures, rich ornamental borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional panel: labeled weights (triyava/kṛṣṇala), clerk writing, king listening, soft colors and precise linework suited to technical content.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, judicial audience hall, qānūn-like register being written, fine balance scale and small seeds on a tray, architectural detail and naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti + āgneye; 'dhyāyaḥ (’dhyāyaḥ) = adhyāyaḥ with avagraha after -o; sāmādyupāyaḥ → sāma-ādi-upāyaḥ; pañcaviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo → pañca-viṃśati-adhika-dviśata-tamaḥ; ṣaḍviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo similarly; pāpastatpañcakaṃ → pāpaḥ + tat-pañcakam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (Sāmādi-upāya chapter colophon); Agni Purana 226 (Rājadharma: daṇḍa and valuation sequence)
FAQs
It introduces daṇḍapraṇayana—technical rules for fixing punishments/fines—and states a monetary/weight equivalence (triyava = kṛṣṇala) plus a fivefold scaling for sinful offences.
Alongside theology and ritual, it preserves applied governance: legal calibration of penalties and standardized measures, showing the text’s coverage of practical administration and jurisprudence.
By enforcing proportionate punishment and deterring pāpa (sinful acts), the king upholds dharma; such just rule is presented as a cause for the ruler’s “parā gati”—highest moral/spiritual outcome.