Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
दण्डः कार्यो नरेन्द्रेण तस्याप्युत्तमसाहसः सत्यङ्कारेण वाचा च युक्तं पुण्यमसंशयं
daṇḍaḥ kāryo narendreṇa tasyāpyuttamasāhasaḥ satyaṅkāreṇa vācā ca yuktaṃ puṇyamasaṃśayaṃ
Die Strafe (daṇḍa) soll vom König vollzogen werden; doch auch dies hat mit höchster Umsicht und Selbstbeherrschung zu geschehen. Wenn sie mit wahrhaftigem Gelöbnis und wahrhaftiger Rede verbunden ist, ist sie gewiss verdienstvoll, ohne Zweifel.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for rulers and judges: administer punishment with utmost prudence and restraint; integrate truthful pledges and truthful speech to make governance ethically meritorious.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Daṇḍa with prudence, restraint, and truthfulness","lookup_keywords":["daṇḍa","nareन्द्र","uttama-sāhasa","satyaṅkāra","satya-vāc"],"quick_summary":"The king must punish, but with the highest carefulness and self-control; when punishment is grounded in truthful pledges and truthful speech, it becomes a source of merit and legitimacy."}
Concept: Ethical sovereignty: coercive power (daṇḍa) is righteous only when disciplined by truth and restraint.
Application: Adopt due process, measured sentencing, and truthful proclamations; avoid cruelty and arbitrariness to preserve legitimacy.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Law, and Punishment)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in court holds the staff of justice but keeps it lowered, listening to truthful testimony; a scribe records a solemn pledge; the atmosphere emphasizes restraint and ethical authority.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dignified king with subdued gesture, daṇḍa symbol present but non-threatening, witnesses with raised right hand in satyaṅkāra, warm earthy palette and ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, enthroned king with gold halo and arch, minister presenting a written pledge, witnesses swearing truth, gold-leaf highlights on staff and throne, serene authoritative mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic courtroom: oath-taking, truthful speech, measured sentencing; fine linework, clear iconography of restraint (lowered staff, open palm)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined durbar scene with judges and scribes, oath on a document, king’s restrained posture, detailed carpets and architectural depth, emphasis on calm justice"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्य+अपि+उत्तमसाहसः → तस्याप्युत्तमसाहसः; सत्य+अङ्कारेण → सत्यङ्कारेण; पुण्यम्+असंशयम् → पुण्यमसंशयम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (daṇḍa and rājadharma sequence); Agni Purana rājadharma/daṇḍanīti discussions elsewhere in the rājadharma khanda
FAQs
It teaches daṇḍa-nīti: the king’s practical method of enforcing punishment with disciplined restraint, grounded in truthful pledge and truthful speech.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies statecraft and legal ethics—here, a concise rule for administering punishment as a dharmic instrument rather than mere coercion.
When punishment is applied with truthfulness and principled restraint, it becomes puṇya (dharma-generating), reducing harm and aligning royal power with moral order.