Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 3
Rāja-dharma (राजधर्माः) — Protection of the Heir, Discipline, Counsel, and the Seven Limbs of the State
न चास्य सङ्गो दातव्यः क्रुद्धलुब्धविमानितैः अशक्यन्तु गुणाधानं कर्तुं तं बन्धयेत् मुखैः
na cāsya saṅgo dātavyaḥ kruddhalubdhavimānitaiḥ aśakyantu guṇādhānaṃ kartuṃ taṃ bandhayet mukhaiḥ
One should not grant him companionship with those who are wrathful, greedy, or arrogant. If it is impossible to instill virtues in him, then he should be restrained by firm admonitions and reproofs.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidelines for character-formation and risk-control: restrict harmful peer influence; use corrective counsel and, if needed, firm restraint to prevent escalation into vice/crime.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saṅga-parihāra (Avoiding corrupting association) and Nigraha (Firm restraint)","lookup_keywords":["saṅga","krodha","lobha","vimāna","nigraha"],"quick_summary":"Do not allow companionship with the wrathful, greedy, or arrogant. If virtue cannot be inculcated, restrain the person through strong admonition and corrective reproof."}
Concept: Saṅga shapes guṇa; when instruction fails, protective restraint prevents adharma.
Application: In governance, education, and family life: screen companions; apply graded correction—counsel, reprimand, then restriction.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Ethics of association and character formation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mentor/minister prevents a youth/official from joining an angry, greedy, arrogant group; the mentor delivers stern admonition, symbolically ‘binding’ him with words.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, palace courtyard, wise minister in white mundu and angavastram raising a teaching hand, youth being gently held back from three courtiers embodying krodha-lobha-vimāna, rich flat colors, ornate borders, traditional facial features","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, royal hall with gold-leaf arches, minister admonishing a young prince, three vice-figures in the background, heavy jewelry, embossed gold detailing, frontal composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional moral scene, clean linework, soft shading, minister pointing to a palm-leaf ‘nīti’ text while attendants separate the youth from corrupt companions, muted palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court scene, detailed textiles, minister whispering stern counsel, youth turning away from dissolute companions, fine architectural background, delicate foliage"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāsya = ca + asya; aśakyantu = aśakyam + tu; guṇādhānam = guṇa + ādhānam; kruddhalubdhavimānitaiḥ treated as dvandva compound in instrumental plural.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Nīti sections on amātya-guṇa, durvyasana-tyāga, daṇḍa-naya
FAQs
It imparts Nīti-vidyā (practical ethics): avoid harmful association (saṅga) and, if virtue cannot be inculcated, restrain the person through strict verbal discipline (admonition/censure).
Beyond rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies social ethics and governance-minded conduct, showing its wide scope that includes Rajadharma and behavioral regulation.
Avoiding corrupting company protects one’s dharma and mental purity; restraining harmful behavior prevents further adharma, limiting negative karma for both the individual and the community.