Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 16
Rāja-dharma (राजधर्माः) — Protection of the Heir, Discipline, Counsel, and the Seven Limbs of the State
अप्रिये चैव वक्तव्ये दीर्घसूत्रः प्रशस्यते सुप्तमन्त्रो भवेद्राजा नापदो गुप्तमन्त्रतः
apriye caiva vaktavye dīrghasūtraḥ praśasyate suptamantro bhavedrājā nāpado guptamantrataḥ
Aun cuando haya que decir algo desagradable, se alaba a quien procede con deliberación. El rey debe mantener oculto su consejo; de un consejo bien guardado no nacen calamidades.
Lord Agni
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव → च + एव; भवेद्राजा → भवेत् + राजा; नापदो → न + आपदः; सुप्तमन्त्रो → सुप्त-मन्त्रः; गुप्तमन्त्रतः → गुप्त-मन्त्रतः
FAQs
It imparts Rajaniti (statecraft): speak unpleasant truths with deliberation and protect the king’s policy-counsel (mantra) through secrecy to prevent political danger.
Alongside ritual and cosmology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical governance doctrine—niti principles on counsel, communication, and risk-management in kingship.
Disciplined speech and restraint (especially guarding confidential counsel) are treated as dharmic self-control, reducing harm, conflict, and the ripple-effects of reckless words.