Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
Prātyahika-Rāja-Karma
Daily Duties of a King
अनुलिप्तो ऽलङ्कृतश् च मुखं पश्येच्च दर्पणे ससुवर्णे धृते राजा शृणुयाद्दिवसादिकं
anulipto 'laṅkṛtaś ca mukhaṃ paśyecca darpaṇe sasuvarṇe dhṛte rājā śṛṇuyāddivasādikaṃ
Having anointed himself and adorned himself, the king should look at his face in a mirror; and, with gold upon his person or held in hand, he should then hear the day’s auspicious particulars and related calendaric indications.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Auspicious daily observance for rulers: after grooming and self-inspection, the king receives the day’s calendrical/omenic briefing (tithi, vāra, nakṣatra, muhūrta) while holding/adorning gold as a śrī-lakṣaṇa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daily Auspicious Briefing (Divasādika) after Adornment and Mirror-Viewing","lookup_keywords":["anulepana","alaṅkāra","darpaṇa","suvarṇa","divasādika"],"quick_summary":"After anointing and adorning himself, the king should view his face in a mirror and, with gold as an auspicious sign, hear the day’s calendrical particulars to time actions properly."}
Concept: Kāla-jñāna (knowledge of time) and śrī-lakṣaṇa (auspicious markers) guide effective action; outer order supports inner steadiness.
Application: Have court astrologer/purohita deliver a daily pañcāṅga briefing; schedule audiences, travel, punishments, and gifts according to muhūrta and omens.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Royal Rituals and Auspicious Daily Observances)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Palace
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a palace chamber, the king—anointed and ornamented—looks into a mirror; an astrologer-priest presents a palm-leaf pañcāṅga and recites the day’s tithi and nakṣatra; the king holds or wears gold as an auspicious token.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, richly colored palace interior, king with sandal paste and ornaments gazing into a hand mirror, priest with palm-leaf almanac pointing to tithi/nakṣatra, attendants holding gold tray, oil lamps and pillars","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, king adorned with jewelry, mirror reflecting face, priest holding pañcāṅga scroll, gold coins and ornaments prominently rendered with embossed shine","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise and instructional: mirror-viewing and grooming, then astrologer briefing with labeled pañcāṅga elements (vāra, tithi, nakṣatra, yoga, karaṇa), calm palette and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate dressing chamber, king before mirror with attendants, court astrologer reading from manuscript, gold objects on carpet, detailed textiles and architectural niches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अनुलिप्तो 'लङ्कृतश् → अनुलिप्तः अलङ्कृतः; पश्येच्च → पश्येत् च; शृणुयाद्दिवसादिकं → शृणुयात् दिवस-आदिकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Jyotiṣa/pañcāṅga and muhūrta-related passages (where present); Agni Purana Rajadharma daily regimen and auspicious observances
FAQs
It teaches a king’s auspicious morning protocol: personal anointment and adornment, viewing oneself in a mirror, holding/wearing gold as a śubha-dravya, and then receiving the day’s calendaric/auspicious briefing (divasādika) used for planning royal actions.
It integrates royal governance (rāja-nīti/rajadharma) with ritual auspiciousness and practical Jyotiṣa-style day-assessment (tithi-vāra-nakṣatra type indicators), showing how the text spans administration, ritual protocol, and time-reckoning guidance.
By beginning the day with śauca (orderly preparation) and śubha-lakṣaṇa (auspicious acts and timing), the king aligns actions with dharma and favorable omens, aiming to reduce obstacles and accrue merit through disciplined, ritually mindful conduct.