Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 26
Rāja-dharma (राजधर्माः) — Protection of the Heir, Discipline, Counsel, and the Seven Limbs of the State
वर्णाश्रमव्यवस्थानं कार्यन्तापसपूजनं न विश्वसेच्च सर्वत्र तापसेषु च विश्वसेत्
varṇāśramavyavasthānaṃ kāryantāpasapūjanaṃ na viśvasecca sarvatra tāpaseṣu ca viśvaset
Man soll die rechte Ordnung von varṇa und āśrama aufrechterhalten und Asketen ehren. Doch darf man nicht überall unterschiedslos Vertrauen schenken; vielmehr soll man den Asketen vertrauen (die wahrhaft diszipliniert sind).
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Maintain social-ethical order (varṇa-āśrama) and honor genuine ascetics, while practicing prudent discernment in whom to trust.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Varṇāśrama Maintenance and Discernment in Trust","lookup_keywords":["varṇāśrama","tāpasa-pūjā","viśvāsa","viveka","ācāra"],"quick_summary":"Uphold varṇa-āśrama duties and honor disciplined ascetics, but avoid indiscriminate trust; place confidence where conduct demonstrates restraint and integrity."}
Concept: Dharma requires both honoring spiritual discipline and applying viveka (discrimination) to avoid misplaced trust.
Application: Support authentic renunciants and institutions; verify character through conduct (yama-niyama, aparigraha) before entrusting resources or counsel.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Varna-ashrama (Social order, ascetic conduct, and ethics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A community scene: orderly performance of varṇa-āśrama duties; a disciplined ascetic is honored with respectful offerings, while a cautious advisor signals discernment before trusting strangers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic with matted hair and kamaṇḍalu seated under a tree, householders offering respectfully, a contrasting figure of dubious ascetic in background, strong outlines and symbolic gestures","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, revered tapasvin with gold accents on halo and offering vessels, orderly devotees, emphasis on dharmic hierarchy and reverence, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic composition showing ‘trust with discernment’: two ascetics—one disciplined, one suspicious—subtle visual cues (calm posture vs. grasping), fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, garden hermitage with detailed flora, patron honoring a sage, attendants observing carefully, nuanced facial expressions conveying caution and respect"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: varṇa+āśrama+vyavasthānam compounded; kāryam tāpasa-pūjanam written as kāryantāpasapūjanam (kāryam + tāpasa-); viśvaset ca → viśvasec ca; repeated viśvaset retained as in text.
Related Themes: Agni Purana āśrama-dharma discussions (brahmacarya/gṛhastha/vānaprastha/saṃnyāsa); Agni Purana nīti passages on testing persons and avoiding deception
FAQs
It teaches dharma-practice: maintain varṇa–āśrama order and perform respectful honoring of genuine ascetics (tāpasa-pūjana), while exercising discernment in whom to trust.
Alongside rituals and cosmology, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies social-ethical guidance (rajadharma/ācāra), including norms of varṇa–āśrama and protocols for engaging with renunciants.
Honoring disciplined ascetics is meritorious (puṇya) and supports dharma, while avoiding indiscriminate trust prevents adharma and protects one’s household and duties from deception.