Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
सामन्तकोषो वाह्यस्तु मन्त्रामात्यात्मजादिकः अन्तःकोषञ्चोपशाम्य कुर्वन् शत्रोश् च तं जयेत्
sāmantakoṣo vāhyastu mantrāmātyātmajādikaḥ antaḥkoṣañcopaśāmya kurvan śatroś ca taṃ jayet
Le « trésor extérieur » se compose des chefs feudataires (sāmanta) et des ressources alliées, ainsi que des conseillers, ministres, fils royaux et autres semblables. Après avoir apaisé et assuré aussi le « trésor intérieur », on doit alors marcher contre l’ennemi et le vaincre.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Rajadharma instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Strategic resource accounting: distinguish external support networks (allies, feudatories, ministers, princes) from internal fiscal stability; secure internal resources before launching conquest.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bāhya-koṣa and Antaḥ-koṣa (External and Internal Treasury)","lookup_keywords":["koṣa","bāhya-koṣa","antaḥ-koṣa","sāmanta","conquest"],"quick_summary":"External treasury includes feudatories and allied power-resources; once the internal treasury is pacified and secured, the king should proceed to conquer the enemy."}
Concept: State as a system of koṣa (resources): internal stability precedes external victory.
Application: Before expansion or major projects, secure cashflow, logistics, and internal cohesion; then leverage alliances for external objectives.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Statecraft, Treasury, Ministers, and Conquest Policy)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king reviews ledgers and granaries (internal treasury) while envoys from feudatory chiefs and allied princes present tribute and troops (external treasury), preparing for a campaign.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, palace treasury room with stacked coins and grain jars, king with palm-leaf accounts, sāmanta chiefs offering tribute, soldiers lined with banners, strong outlines and saturated colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with accountants and ministers, gold-embossed treasury chests, allied chiefs in ornate attire offering gifts, symbolic map of enemy land, rich gold work and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional tableau: labeled internal treasury (granary, mint, storehouse) and external treasury (feudatories, ministers, princes), king pointing to plan of campaign, delicate shading and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed treasury audit scene with scribes, scales weighing coins, allied chiefs arriving with tribute, background shows mustering troops, fine architectural perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कोषो → कोषः; वाह्यस्तु → वाह्यः + तु; मन्त्रामात्यात्मजादिकः → मन्त्र + अमात्य + आत्मज + आदिकः; अन्तःकोषञ्चोपशाम्य → अन्तःकोषम् + च + उपशाम्य; शत्रोश् च → शत्रोः + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (rāja-nīti: ministers, allies, conquest policy)
FAQs
It imparts rajadharma/statecraft: classify and stabilize the king’s strategic resources (kośa)—external supports like feudatories and key personnel—then secure internal resources before launching a campaign for victory.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical political science—administration, ministerial structure, alliances, and war-planning—showing its broad, encyclopedic scope.
In rajadharma terms, victory is framed as righteous governance: maintaining order through disciplined control of resources and counsel, minimizing chaos and adharma that arise from an unsteady treasury and factional discord.