Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Chapter 237 — Rāma’s Teaching on Nīti (रामोक्तनीतिः)
दीनोपगतरक्षणमिति ख , घ , छ , ज , ञ , ट च स्वमुखमन्विच्छुरिति ख , छ च देवतावत् गुरुजनमात्मवच्च सुहृज्जनं प्रणिपातेन हि गुरुं सतो ऽमृषानुचेष्टितैः
dīnopagatarakṣaṇamiti kha , gha , cha , ja , ña , ṭa ca svamukhamanvicchuriti kha , cha ca devatāvat gurujanamātmavacca suhṛjjanaṃ praṇipātena hi guruṃ sato 'mṛṣānuceṣṭitaiḥ
“Protección del desvalido y de quienes han acudido en busca de amparo” (lectura en kha, gha, cha, ja, ña, ṭa); y “buscar el propio provecho” (lectura en kha y cha). Debe uno venerar a los mayores y a los maestros como a deidades, y tratar a los amigos bienhechores como a sí mismo; en verdad, al gurú se le honra con postración, con la conducta de los virtuosos y con actos libres de engaño.
Lord Agni (teaching to Vashistha, in the typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethics of refuge-protection, guru-veneration, and non-deceitful conduct; useful for household governance, leadership, and community trust-building.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇa, Guru-sevā, and Amṛṣānuceṣṭā (Non-deceitful Conduct)","lookup_keywords":["dinopagata-rakshana","sharanagata","guru-pranipata","suhrid","amrisha"],"quick_summary":"Protect the helpless/refuge-seeker, revere elders and teachers as divine, treat friends as oneself, and honor the guru through prostration and non-deceptive virtuous conduct."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (supporting maxim) with variant readings noted
Concept: Dharma is expressed as protection of the vulnerable and as guru-bhakti grounded in truthfulness and absence of deceit.
Application: In leadership: institute asylum/refuge norms; in education: daily pranipāta and service; in friendships: reciprocity and transparency.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Ethics of conduct and social duty)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ruler/householder sheltering a poor refugee at the doorway, while nearby a student prostrates to a seated guru; friends are embraced as equals, all under an atmosphere of honesty.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-register composition: upper—guru seated on a mat, disciple doing full pranipata; lower—refuge-seeker protected by a noble figure, warm compassionate palette, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central guru with gold aureole, disciple prostrating, side vignette of sheltering the helpless, gold detailing on garments and throne-like seat","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene with clear gestures: pranipata to guru, offering water/food to refugee, friends shown with mutual respect, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene: guru teaching under a canopy, student bowing; adjacent scene of a petitioner/refugee being granted protection by a dignitary, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svamukham+anvicchuḥ→svamukhamanvicchuḥ; gurujanam+ātmavat+ca→gurujanamātmavacca; sato+amṛṣā…→sato 'mṛṣā… (avagraha). Letter-names (kha, gha, etc.) are preserved as given.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 237 (nīti on guru, suhrid, satya); Agni Purana dharma sections on dāna and dayā (related themes)
FAQs
It teaches sadācāra within rājadharma: protect the helpless, revere gurus/elders like deities, treat well-wishers as oneself, and honor the guru through praṇipāta and non-deceptive, virtuous conduct.
Alongside ritual and technical sciences, the Agni Purana also codifies practical social ethics—guru-sevā, humility, truthful behavior, and protection of dependents—showing its coverage of governance and moral law (nīti/rājadharma).
Reverence to the guru and truthful, non-deceptive conduct are presented as purifying disciplines that generate merit (puṇya) and stabilize dharma, while protecting the helpless is a direct expression of righteous duty.