Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 38
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
वक्ष्ये ऽनुजीविनां वृत्ते सेवी सेवेत भूपतिं दक्षता भद्रता दार्ढ्यं क्षान्तिः क्लेशसहिष्णुता
vakṣye 'nujīvināṃ vṛtte sevī seveta bhūpatiṃ dakṣatā bhadratā dārḍhyaṃ kṣāntiḥ kleśasahiṣṇutā
I shall explain the proper conduct of those who live by service: a retainer should serve the king, endowed with competence, good character, firmness, patience, and endurance of hardships.
Lord Agni (narrating the niti/rajadharma teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Code of conduct for retainers/civil servants: competence, integrity, firmness, patience, and hardship-tolerance for effective governance and stable administration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"अनुजीविन-वृत्ति (Conduct and qualities of a retainer)","lookup_keywords":["अनुजीविन्","सेवक","दक्षता","क्षान्ति","क्लेशसहिष्णुता"],"quick_summary":"A servant of the king should cultivate competence, good character, firmness, patience, and endurance—qualities that sustain reliable service under pressure."}
Concept: सेवाधर्म—राजसेवा as disciplined livelihood requiring inner virtues (क्षान्ति, दार्ढ्य) and outer skill (दक्षता).
Application: Professional ethics for public service: build skill, reliability, emotional regulation, and resilience to hardship; avoid fragility under workload and crisis.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Conduct of servants and royal service)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined retainer stands in the royal court, attentive and composed, holding a palm-leaf dossier; visual emblems show competence, good conduct, firmness, patience, and endurance of hardship.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal court with stylized pillars; servant with folded hands, steady gaze; five symbolic motifs around him (scroll for दक्षता, lotus for भद्रता, mountain for दार्ढ्य, calm moon for क्षान्ति, rugged path for क्लेशसहिष्णुता).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king on throne with gold halo-like arch; servant in front with gold-embossed sash; ornate icons representing the five virtues; rich jewel tones and heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition; labeled virtues in neat cartouches; servant shown performing tasks—writing, standing guard, waiting patiently, enduring heat/rain; soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar scene; a capable courtier presents documents; background shows him enduring travel and hardship; fine facial expressions emphasizing patience and firmness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vakṣye 'nujīvinām = vakṣye + anujīvinām (avagraha: euphonic elision of initial a-). mantrañca not in this verse.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 238 (anujivin/servant conduct)
FAQs
It teaches niti for royal service: a servant/retainer should serve the king with efficiency (dakṣatā), good conduct (bhadratā), firmness (dārḍhya), patience (kṣānti), and hardship-endurance (kleśa-sahiṣṇutā).
Beyond ritual and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves statecraft and ethical governance norms (rajadharma/niti), detailing character-qualities required for functioning courts and administrations.
Right livelihood through disciplined service—performed with patience and integrity—supports dharma, reduces harm born of anger or instability, and is presented as a meritorious, order-sustaining mode of action.