Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11

Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare

Devanagari script

प्रसुप्तं भोजनव्यग्रमभूमिष्ठमसुस्थितं चौराग्निभयवित्रस्तं वृष्टिवातसमाहतं

Transliteration

prasuptaṃ bhojanavyagramabhūmiṣṭhamasusthitaṃ caurāgnibhayavitrastaṃ vṛṣṭivātasamāhataṃ

Translation

Wer schläft; wer beim Essen abgelenkt ist; wer am Boden liegt; wer unsicher steht; wer aus Furcht vor Dieben oder Feuer erschrickt; und wer von Regen und Wind getroffen wird—solche Menschen sind als hilflos zu betrachten und verdienen Schutz.

Word by Word

• प्रसुप्तम्: asleep
• प्रसुप्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + स्वप् (धातु) → प्रसुप्त (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; fast asleep

• भोजन-व्यग्रम्: busy with eating
• भोजन-व्यग्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोजन + व्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (भोजने व्यग्रम्) intent on eating

• अभूमिष्ठम्: not stationed on firm ground
• अभूमिष्ठम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + भूमिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (भूमौ न स्थितम्) not on the ground / not properly grounded

• असुस्थितम्: unsteady, ill-arranged
• असुस्थितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + सुस्थित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (सु-स्था/स्थित), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ill-positioned, unstable

• चौर-अग्नि-भय-वित्रस्तम्: frightened by fear of thieves and fire
• चौर-अग्नि-भय-वित्रस्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चौर + अग्नि + भय + वित्रस्त (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (चौराग्निभयेन वित्रस्तम्) terrified by fear of thieves and fire

• वृष्टि-वात-समाहतम्: buffeted by rain and wind
• वृष्टि-वात-समाहतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष्टि + वात + समाहत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (वृष्टिवाताभ्यां समाहतम्) struck by rain and wind

Speaker

Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Legal-protective rule: identifying persons in vulnerable states (asleep, eating, unsteady, weather-struck, fear-struck) who must be safeguarded and not exploited; informs policing and adjudication.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Helpless/vulnerable persons deserving protection (anatha/ashakta-lakshana)","lookup_keywords":["prasupta","bhojana-vyagra","abhumi-stha","asu-sthita","chora-agni-bhaya"],"quick_summary":"Defines situational helplessness: sleep, distraction while eating, lying on the ground, unsteadiness, terror from thieves/fire, and being battered by rain/wind. Practically, it guides officials and citizens to protect and not blame or penalize such persons unfairly."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Daya and raksha: dharma requires safeguarding those temporarily incapable of self-protection.

Application: In law enforcement and community conduct: do not harass, fine, or coerce such persons; instead provide assistance and ensure safe passage.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Governance, Law, and Procedural Rules)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sequence-like tableau: a sleeping traveler, a person eating distractedly, someone fallen on the ground, a staggering figure, a frightened person near thieves/fire, and a person drenched by rain and buffeted by wind—while guards/citizens offer protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frieze of six vignettes with bold outlines: each vulnerable state shown clearly; protective attendants with calm faces; rain and wind stylized as swirling bands","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, six-panel narrative with gold borders; each panel shows one helpless condition; protective figure (guard/king’s officer) rendered with dignified posture and gold accents","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional storyboard: labeled-like clarity in gestures—sleeping, eating, fallen, unsteady, fear of fire/thieves, rain-wind exposure; delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed street/roadside scene with multiple groups; subtle expressions of fear and fatigue; guards intervening; realistic rain and wind effects"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: भोजनव्यग्रमभूमिष्ठमसुस्थितं = भोजनव्यग्रम् + अभूमिष्ठम् + असुस्थितम् (external sandhi: ...व्यग्रम् + अभूमिष्ठम् → ...व्यग्रमभूमिष्ठम्; ...भूमिष्ठम् + असुस्थितम् → ...भूमिष्ठमसुस्थितम्).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma/Vyavahara rules on protection, punishment, and exceptions for incapacity

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• coura (thieves)
• agni (fire)
• vṛṣṭi (rain)
• vāta (wind)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It imparts rajadharma/nyaya guidance: identifying states of vulnerability (sleep, distraction, exposure, panic, weather-affliction) in which a person is considered helpless and must be protected rather than exploited.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also catalogs practical governance norms—here, a quasi-legal list defining vulnerable conditions relevant to policing, public duty, and adjudication.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Protecting those in helpless states is treated as dharmic conduct; harming or taking advantage of them increases adharma and negative karmic consequence, while safeguarding them accrues merit.