Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 30
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
ईप्सितद्रव्यसम्पूर्णः पितृपैतामहोचितः धर्मार्जितो व्ययसहः कोषो धर्मादिवृद्धये
īpsitadravyasampūrṇaḥ pitṛpaitāmahocitaḥ dharmārjito vyayasahaḥ koṣo dharmādivṛddhaye
A treasury should be filled with the sought and necessary resources, conforming to the standards handed down from father and grandfather; acquired through righteous means in accord with dharma, and able to bear expenditure—so that dharma and the other aims of life may increase.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Treasury management: build a lawful, tradition-consistent, expenditure-capable kosha to support dharma and state objectives.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kosha-lakshana: Righteous and Sustainable Treasury","lookup_keywords":["kosha","dharma-arjita","vyaya-saha","pitr-paitamaha","rajya-vyaya"],"quick_summary":"A treasury should be adequately stocked, built by righteous acquisition, aligned with inherited standards of stewardship, and resilient to necessary expenditure to grow dharma and other aims."}
Concept: Artha is legitimate when dharma-arjita and when it serves dharma (and allied aims) through responsible expenditure.
Application: Public finance ethics: prioritize lawful revenue, maintain reserves, budget for welfare/ritual/defense, and preserve institutional standards across generations.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Arthashastra (Treasury, revenue, and righteous governance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: artha
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal treasury hall with measured stacks of coins, grain accounts, and ledgers; the king and treasurer ensure lawful inflow and planned outflow for dharma works (temples, relief, defense).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, interior treasury scene with stylized chests and palm-leaf ledgers, king and bhandagarika in profile, symbolic dharma items (lamp, donation vessel) nearby, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central treasury chest with gold leaf, king and minister holding account scrolls, small vignettes of dharmic spending (feeding, temple lamp), rich reds and gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: treasury, ledger, scales, and officials; soft palette, fine outlines, emphasis on orderly accounting and expenditure planning.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed accounting scene with scribes, coin trays, seals, and registers; architectural arches; subtle expressions; realistic textiles and objects."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धर्मादिवृद्धये = धर्म + आदि + वृद्धये (ā + a → ā).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma: revenue, taxation, gifts, and protection; Agni Purana sections on dana and yajna support
FAQs
It teaches kośa-nīti: the technical principle that the royal treasury must be adequately stocked, ethically sourced (dharmārjita), and resilient to necessary state expenditures.
Beyond ritual and theology, it addresses practical statecraft—how wealth should be accumulated, legitimized through dharma, and deployed—showing the text’s coverage of governance and political economy.
Wealth acquired by dharma and used to sustain rightful duties supports the growth of dharma (and related aims), while discouraging unrighteous gain that produces negative karmic consequences.