Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 46
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
आमुक्तिकेभ्यश् चौरेभ्यः पौरेभ्यो राजवल्लभात् पृथिवीपतिलोभाच्च प्रजानां पञ्चधा भयं
āmuktikebhyaś caurebhyaḥ paurebhyo rājavallabhāt pṛthivīpatilobhācca prajānāṃ pañcadhā bhayaṃ
Für das Volk ist die Furcht fünffach: vor den Freigelassenen (Verbrechern), vor Dieben, vor Stadtbewohnern, vor den Günstlingen des Königs und vor der Gier des Landesherrn.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Public order risk assessment: identify five sources of fear for subjects—released offenders, thieves, townsmen (mob/urban factions), royal favourites, and the ruler’s greed—so governance can mitigate each through law, policing, and restraint.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Fivefold fear of subjects (praja-bhaya)","lookup_keywords":["pañcadhā bhayam","āmuktika","caura","paura","rāja-vallabha","pṛthivīpati-lobha"],"quick_summary":"People suffer insecurity from crime, factional urban pressure, corrupt courtiers, and predatory rulership. A king must reduce these fears by disciplined justice, impartial administration, and self-restraint."}
Concept: Rājadharma includes fear-reduction (abhaya-dāna) through just punishment, impartiality, and conquering personal greed; the king himself can be a source of adharma if unrestrained.
Application: Governance checklist: parole supervision, anti-theft enforcement, community mediation, anti-nepotism controls, and anti-corruption/anti-extortion safeguards.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Law, and Public Order)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A city scene showing five threats: a released criminal lurking, thieves stealing, an aggressive town faction, an arrogant royal favourite abusing power, and a greedy ruler demanding excess—contrasted with an ideal judge-king restoring safety.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic urban tableau with five labeled vignettes of fear sources, strong expressions and stylized movement, concluding panel of king dispensing fair justice, traditional palette and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted throne room: corrupt favourite and greedy tax demand contrasted with a dharmic king holding scales of justice; side panels show thieves and unrest, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: five compartments labeled āmuktika/caura/paura/rāja-vallabha/lobha, final compartment shows reforms and guards, fine linework and calm instructional tone","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling city with narrative details: pickpockets, street faction quarrel, courtier intimidation, ruler’s extortion scene, then a justice court scene, rich architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"grave","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आमुक्तिकेभ्यश् चौरेभ्यः = आमुक्तिकेभ्यः + चौरेभ्यः; पृथिवीपतिलोभाच्च = पृथिवीपतिलोभात् + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma passages on daṇḍa, policing, and kingly self-control (near 238–242)
FAQs
It imparts rāja-nīti (statecraft) knowledge: identifying five principal sources of public insecurity that a ruler must control—crime, urban disorder, corruption via favourites, and the king’s own greed.
Beyond ritual and theology, it preserves practical political diagnostics—an administrative checklist of threats to social stability—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of governance (rajadharma) alongside other sciences.
It frames kingship as a dharmic trust: when the ruler curbs greed and corruption and protects subjects from predation, he accrues merit; when he becomes a source of fear, he incurs grave demerit through adharma.