Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
सामन्तादि कृते दोषे नश्येत्तद्व्यसनाच्च तत् भृत्यानां भरणं दानं प्रजामित्रपरिग्रहः
sāmantādi kṛte doṣe naśyettadvyasanācca tat bhṛtyānāṃ bharaṇaṃ dānaṃ prajāmitraparigrahaḥ
Wenn durch Sāmanta (Lehnsherren/Vasallen) und dergleichen ein Fehler in der Regierung entsteht, soll er unschädlich gemacht werden—zusammen mit dem Unheil, das aus diesem Missgeschick folgt. (Der König soll sichern) den Unterhalt der Diener, das Spenden von Gaben und die Festigung des Schutzes von Volk und Verbündeten.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Manage feudatories (sāmanta) and allied chiefs: detect governance faults early, neutralize cascading crises, ensure payroll/maintenance of servants, use gifts strategically, and secure subjects plus allies.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sāmanta-Doṣa Śamana and Royal Stabilization Measures","lookup_keywords":["sāmanta","doṣa","vyasana","bhṛtya-bharaṇa","dāna","praja-mitra"],"quick_summary":"When trouble arises from feudatories, the king must pacify the fault and its resulting calamity, while stabilizing the realm through servant-maintenance, strategic gifting, and protection of people and allies."}
Concept: Kingship is sustained by reciprocal obligations: the ruler maintains servants and subjects; allies are secured through protection and appropriate generosity.
Application: Implement feudatory oversight, grievance redressal, timely salaries, and calibrated gifts to prevent factional crises.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, statecraft, and royal duties)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king receives feudatory chiefs; a dispute is resolved to prevent crisis; servants are paid and fed; gifts are distributed; subjects and allied banners stand protected—showing pacification and alliance-building.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal audience with sāmantas offering tribute, king mediating a fault, attendants distributing food and wages to bhṛtyas, gift-giving scene, protected townsfolk; vibrant palette, stylized court architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, enthroned king with gold-foil crown, sāmantas in respectful posture, trays of gifts (dāna) gleaming, servants receiving maintenance; ornate border and rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, sequential panels: identify sāmanta-doṣa, neutralize vyasana, bhṛtya-bharaṇa, dāna, prajā-mitra protection; precise courtly drawing, captions on scrolls.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, diplomatic durbar with feudatory chiefs, gift exchange, scribes recording grants, guards and citizens in background; detailed textiles, architectural depth, refined faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नश्येत्तद्व्यसनाच्च = नश्येत् + तद् + व्यसनात् + च. प्रजामित्रपरिग्रहः = प्रजा-मित्र-परिग्रहः (समास).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rājadharma on sāmanta relations, dāna, bhṛtya-bharaṇa, mitra policy, daṇḍa escalation
FAQs
It imparts rāja-nīti (political science): how to counter governance-faults arising from feudatories and prevent cascading calamities through administration—supporting officials, strategic gifting, and securing subjects and allies.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical statecraft: internal security (samanta-related risks), administrative welfare (bhṛtya-bharaṇa), incentive policy (dāna), and diplomacy/public order (prajā-mitra-parigraha), showing the Purana’s wide coverage of governance systems.
A king who protects subjects, sustains dependents, and maintains alliances through righteous means reduces harm and disorder (adharma), thereby accruing merit through dharmic governance and the protection of life and social stability.