Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 7
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
अनष्टद्रव्यता राष्ट्रे तस्य संस्मरणादभूत् न नूनं कार्त्तवीर्यस्य गतिं यास्यन्ति वै नृपः
anaṣṭadravyatā rāṣṭre tasya saṃsmaraṇādabhūt na nūnaṃ kārttavīryasya gatiṃ yāsyanti vai nṛpaḥ
In the kingdom, the condition of “no loss of wealth” arose from remembering him. Indeed, those kings will surely not attain the destiny of Kārttavīrya.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s instruction to Vasiṣṭha in the usual dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Governance lesson: public memory of an ideal ruler can stabilize economic trust (‘no loss of wealth’), yet rulers must avoid the moral errors that caused Kārtavīrya’s downfall.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Anāṣṭa-dravyatā (No-loss of Wealth) and the Cautionary Fate of Kārtavīrya","lookup_keywords":["anāṣṭa-dravya","rāṣṭra","smaraṇa","Kārtavīrya","nīti"],"quick_summary":"Collective remembrance of a strong ruler can produce economic security and reduced loss/theft, but mere emulation without dharma leads to ruin. The verse warns kings not to inherit Kārtavīrya’s end."}
Alamkara Type: Arthantaranyasa
Concept: Smaraṇa (collective remembrance) shapes social order; but destiny is governed by conduct—power without dharma ends in downfall.
Application: Policy: strengthen rule of law, protect property, deter theft; cultivate a reputation for justice; avoid arrogance and oppression that invite collapse.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Kingship, and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosperous kingdom where merchants travel safely and granaries are full, attributed to remembrance of a powerful ruler; in contrast, a faint vignette hints at Kārtavīrya’s tragic end as a warning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bustling yet orderly market and guarded roads, king’s emblem or portrait remembered by people, secondary vignette of fallen king as moral caution, bold flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, golden prosperity motifs (coins, granaries), king’s remembered image in a medallion with gold leaf, orderly subjects, ornamental borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional governance tableau: safe caravans, watchmen, न्यायसभा (court of justice) implied; subtle caution panel of downfall, fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed bazaar and caravan scene with guards, inscriptions about ‘no loss of wealth’, marginal miniature showing the cautionary fate of Kārtavīrya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संस्मरणात् + अभूत् → संस्मरणादभूत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma/Nīti passages on protection of subjects and wealth security (thematic); Agni Purana: Kārtavīrya narrative context (274.5–274.6)
FAQs
It conveys a practical rajadharma principle: the disciplined remembrance (saṃsmaraṇa) of an exemplary figure is said to stabilize the realm and prevent loss of state wealth (anaṣṭa-dravyatā).
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves statecraft and ethical governance: it links collective welfare (economic security in the rāṣṭra) with moral-psychological governance tools like remembrance of ideals and cautionary exempla (Kārttavīrya’s gati).
The verse frames remembrance as merit-bearing and protective, while warning rulers that unethical conduct can lead to a ruinous destiny—symbolized by ‘Kārttavīrya’s fate’—thus urging karmically aligned kingship.