Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
सामन्तकोषो वाह्यस्तु मन्त्रामात्यात्मजादिकः अन्तःकोषञ्चोपशाम्य कुर्वन् शत्रोश् च तं जयेत्
sāmantakoṣo vāhyastu mantrāmātyātmajādikaḥ antaḥkoṣañcopaśāmya kurvan śatroś ca taṃ jayet
The ‘external treasury’ consists of feudatory chiefs (sāmanta) and allied resources, along with counsellors, ministers, royal sons, and the like. By pacifying and securing the ‘internal treasury’ as well, one should then proceed against the enemy and conquer him.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Rajadharma instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Strategic resource accounting: distinguish external support networks (allies, feudatories, ministers, princes) from internal fiscal stability; secure internal resources before launching conquest.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bāhya-koṣa and Antaḥ-koṣa (External and Internal Treasury)","lookup_keywords":["koṣa","bāhya-koṣa","antaḥ-koṣa","sāmanta","conquest"],"quick_summary":"External treasury includes feudatories and allied power-resources; once the internal treasury is pacified and secured, the king should proceed to conquer the enemy."}
Concept: State as a system of koṣa (resources): internal stability precedes external victory.
Application: Before expansion or major projects, secure cashflow, logistics, and internal cohesion; then leverage alliances for external objectives.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Statecraft, Treasury, Ministers, and Conquest Policy)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king reviews ledgers and granaries (internal treasury) while envoys from feudatory chiefs and allied princes present tribute and troops (external treasury), preparing for a campaign.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, palace treasury room with stacked coins and grain jars, king with palm-leaf accounts, sāmanta chiefs offering tribute, soldiers lined with banners, strong outlines and saturated colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with accountants and ministers, gold-embossed treasury chests, allied chiefs in ornate attire offering gifts, symbolic map of enemy land, rich gold work and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional tableau: labeled internal treasury (granary, mint, storehouse) and external treasury (feudatories, ministers, princes), king pointing to plan of campaign, delicate shading and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed treasury audit scene with scribes, scales weighing coins, allied chiefs arriving with tribute, background shows mustering troops, fine architectural perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कोषो → कोषः; वाह्यस्तु → वाह्यः + तु; मन्त्रामात्यात्मजादिकः → मन्त्र + अमात्य + आत्मज + आदिकः; अन्तःकोषञ्चोपशाम्य → अन्तःकोषम् + च + उपशाम्य; शत्रोश् च → शत्रोः + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (rāja-nīti: ministers, allies, conquest policy)
FAQs
It imparts rajadharma/statecraft: classify and stabilize the king’s strategic resources (kośa)—external supports like feudatories and key personnel—then secure internal resources before launching a campaign for victory.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical political science—administration, ministerial structure, alliances, and war-planning—showing its broad, encyclopedic scope.
In rajadharma terms, victory is framed as righteous governance: maintaining order through disciplined control of resources and counsel, minimizing chaos and adharma that arise from an unsteady treasury and factional discord.