Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 24
Śrīrāmāvatāravarṇanam (Description of Śrī Rāma’s Incarnation) — Ayodhyā Abhiṣeka, Vanavāsa, Daśaratha’s Death, Bharata’s Regency
यन्मामेवं ब्रवीषि त्वं सर्वलोकाप्रियङ्करि केवलं त्वत्प्रियं कृत्वा भविष्यामि सुनिन्दितः
yanmāmevaṃ bravīṣi tvaṃ sarvalokāpriyaṅkari kevalaṃ tvatpriyaṃ kṛtvā bhaviṣyāmi suninditaḥ
Since you speak to me in this way, O you who make yourself disliked by all people—if I do only what is pleasing to you, I shall become thoroughly censured.
Unspecified male respondent within the Adhyaya’s dialogue (a counsel-giving/nīti context; not explicitly marked in the provided excerpt)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Public legitimacy management: a ruler must avoid actions that make him 'sarva-lokāpriya' and 'sunindita'; prioritizing private preference over public dharma erodes authority.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Public Disrepute from Private Favoritism","lookup_keywords":["sarva-lokāpriyaṅkarī","sunindita","nindā","raja-nīti","public-opinion"],"quick_summary":"The king warns that obeying a single person’s pleasure against the public good leads to universal censure. It is a concise principle of political legitimacy and ethical rule."}
Alamkara Type: Ninda-stuti (reproach as moral instruction)
Concept: Loka-nindā (public blame) is a real ethical-political consequence; dharma is not reducible to pleasing a favored individual.
Application: Leaders should test decisions against public welfare and reputational integrity; avoid nepotism and private-interest governance.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Niti (Dialogues on conduct, counsel, and social consequence)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king admonishes that yielding to one person’s wish will make him hated by all and widely condemned; a moral warning in a tense palace dialogue.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: king speaking firmly, finger raised in admonition, Kaikeyī shown displeased, courtiers watching, stylized palace pillars, restrained but intense expressions","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: didactic royal scene, king on throne delivering warning, gold leaf emphasizing authority symbols, Kaikeyī to the side, balanced composition conveying moral gravity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional tableau, king addressing queen, subtle facial emotion, fine ornamentation, emphasis on speech gesture and attentive audience","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court conversation with onlookers, king’s admonishing posture, detailed textiles and architecture, muted palette highlighting seriousness"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यन्माम् = यत् + माम्; त्वत्प्रियम् = त्वद् + प्रियम्; अप्रियङ्करि = अप्रियम् + करि (अनुस्वार/ङ्-संधि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma: king’s conduct, popularity, and avoidance of nindā (general)
FAQs
This verse imparts nīti-vidyā (practical ethics): do not act solely to please one person when it will bring public blame and social harm.
Alongside ritual, cosmology, and other disciplines, the Agni Purana also preserves applied guidance on conduct and governance-like prudence—showing it functions as a broad handbook of dharma and worldly decision-making.
It warns that actions driven by partiality and private pleasing can lead to blame and adharma; choosing socially and morally defensible action supports right conduct and reduces negative karmic outcomes tied to causing harm or scandal.