Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Prātyahika-Rāja-Karma
Daily Duties of a King
निःसत्त्वादौ नृपः स्नातः पश्येद्विष्णुं सुपूजितं हुतञ्च पावकं पश्येद्विप्रान् पश्येत्सुपूजितान्
niḥsattvādau nṛpaḥ snātaḥ paśyedviṣṇuṃ supūjitaṃ hutañca pāvakaṃ paśyedviprān paśyetsupūjitān
Al comienzo del rito niḥsattva, el rey—tras bañarse—debe contemplar a Viṣṇu debidamente adorado; debe también contemplar el Fuego (Pāvaka) en el que se han ofrecido oblaciones, y contemplar a los brāhmaṇas, honrados como corresponde.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Daily/occasional royal ritual protocol: bathing, darśana of worshipped Viṣṇu, viewing the consecrated fire after oblations, and honoring brāhmaṇas to stabilize auspiciousness and legitimacy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rāja-pūjā-krama: Snāna, Viṣṇu-darśana, Homa-darśana, Vipra-satkāra","lookup_keywords":["niḥsattva","snāna","Viṣṇu","pāvaka","vipra"],"quick_summary":"At the beginning of the rite, the king bathes, beholds Viṣṇu duly worshipped, witnesses the oblation-fed fire, and pays respect to honored brāhmaṇas—establishing purity and auspicious order."}
Concept: Ritual purity and darśana as instruments of rāja-tejas and social harmony: honoring deity, fire, and brāhmaṇas aligns king with dharma.
Application: Maintain a fixed morning/rite-opening sequence: snāna → deity worship/darśana → homa/fire witness → honor learned brāhmaṇas.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Raja-abhisheka / Darshana-krama and daily royal ritual observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A purified king after bath stands in a ritual hall: Viṣṇu shrine with offerings, a blazing homa fire with ladle and oblations, and honored brāhmaṇas seated receiving respect.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple interior with Viṣṇu icon on pedestal, lamps and flower garlands; homa-kuṇḍa with bright stylized flames; brāhmaṇas in white seated; king with wet hair after snāna, serene shanta-bhakti mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu as central gilded icon with gold leaf halo; foreground homa fire with gold accents; king offering respects to brāhmaṇas; ornate arch and rich textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean ritual diagram feel: sequential focus on snāna vessel, Viṣṇu altar, homa-kuṇḍa, brāhmaṇa satkāra; delicate shading and fine ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace chapel scene: detailed fire altar, priests, and king; intricate carpets and vessels; soft naturalistic flames; respectful courtly atmosphere."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पश्येद्विष्णुम् → पश्येत् विष्णुम्; हुतञ्च → हुतम् च; पश्येद्विप्रान् → पश्येत् विप्रान्; पश्येत्सुपूजितान् → पश्येत् सुपूजितान् (त् + स → त्स्)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi and homa procedures; Agni Purana: Rajābhiṣeka/daily observances sections
FAQs
It prescribes an auspicious post-bath sequence for a king: darśana of duly worshipped Viṣṇu, then the consecrated sacrificial fire that has received oblations (huta-pāvaka), and then honored brāhmaṇas—establishing a practical ritual order for purity and legitimacy.
Beyond theology, it encodes procedural royal protocol (rāja-dharma + pūjā-vidhi): bodily purification (snāna), divine verification (Viṣṇu-darśana), ritual continuity (Agni with offerings), and social-religious order (honoring brāhmaṇas). This blend of governance and liturgy typifies the Agni Purāṇa’s multi-disciplinary scope.
Bathing and then beholding worshipped Viṣṇu, the sanctified oblation-bearing fire, and honored brāhmaṇas is taught as an auspicious purification-and-merit sequence, aligning the king’s actions with dharma, sacrificial sanctity, and respect for sacred authority.