Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 15
Prātyahika-Rāja-Karma
Daily Duties of a King
गुप्तं चाप्रकटं चरेदिति ग , ज , ट च आकार ग्रहणे राज्ञो मन्त्ररक्षा परा मता इत्य् अस्य स्थाने आकारेङ्गिततत्त्वज्ञः कार्याकार्यविचक्षण इति ट पुस्तकपाठः राजाधिभूतिमाप्नोतीति ज भूषितो भोजनङ्कुर्याद् दानाद्यैः सुपरीक्षितं भुक्त्वा गृहीतताम्बूलो वामपार्श्वेन संस्थितः
guptaṃ cāprakaṭaṃ carediti ga , ja , ṭa ca ākāra grahaṇe rājño mantrarakṣā parā matā ity asya sthāne ākāreṅgitatattvajñaḥ kāryākāryavicakṣaṇa iti ṭa pustakapāṭhaḥ rājādhibhūtimāpnotīti ja bhūṣito bhojanaṅkuryād dānādyaiḥ suparīkṣitaṃ bhuktvā gṛhītatāmbūlo vāmapārśvena saṃsthitaḥ
Il doit se déplacer avec discrétion, sans se donner en spectacle. Dans la lecture des signes extérieurs du roi, la protection du secret du conseil est tenue pour suprême. (Dans une recension manuscrite, on lit à la place : « Celui qui connaît la vérité des expressions et des gestes, et qui discerne ce qu’il faut faire et ne pas faire. » Une autre ajoute : « Il obtient une prééminence sur le roi. ») Convenablement paré, il doit prendre une nourriture soigneusement examinée par des dons et d’autres moyens (c’est-à-dire par une vérification sûre) ; après avoir mangé et pris le tāmbūla (bétel), il doit se tenir au côté gauche du roi.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Court protocol: discreet movement, strict protection of state counsel, skill in reading royal expressions, food security through trusted verification, and proper post-meal attendance position.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Mantra-rakṣā and court etiquette (guhya-caryā, food testing, left-side attendance)","lookup_keywords":["guhya-caryā","mantra-rakṣā","ākāra-iṅgita","anna-parīkṣā","tāmbūla"],"quick_summary":"The attendant should remain unobtrusive and prioritize secrecy of counsel, being adept at interpreting expressions and judging proper action. Food should be thoroughly verified, and the attendant stands at the king’s left after the meal and betel."}
Concept: Rāja-sevā requires self-restraint, confidentiality, and discrimination (viveka) about what should/should not be done; personal conduct safeguards the polity.
Application: Adopt court SOPs: discreet conduct, need-to-know counsel handling, trained observation of the ruler’s cues, rigorous food verification, and fixed attendance etiquette.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Ministerial Counsel, Court Etiquette)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A discreet court attendant/minister moves unobtrusively, reading the king’s subtle expressions; a trusted food verification scene precedes the king’s meal; afterward the attendant stands at the king’s left as betel is taken.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, palace hall with stylized figures; attendant with composed posture and lowered gaze, king seated; side vignette of food being examined by trusted servants; warm lamp-lit palette, vigilant mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly adorned king dining; gold detailing on vessels; attendant standing to the left holding a fly-whisk; separate small panel showing food verification; ornate court arch.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: three-step sequence—discreet movement, counsel secrecy (sealed scroll), food testing/verification, then left-side attendance after tāmbūla; fine lines and muted elegance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate durbar: detailed dishes and attendants; one figure tasting/testing food; king with pān; attendant positioned at left; intricate textiles and architectural borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाप्रकटम् → च अप्रकटम्; carediti → चरेत् इति; इत्य् अस्य → इति अस्य; आकारेङ्गित… → आकार-इङ्गित… (ए + इ → ए); राजाधिभूतिमाप्नोति → राजा अधिभूतिम् आप्नोति; भोजनङ्कुर्याद् → भोजनम् कुर्यात् (अनुस्वार-सन्धि/लिप्यन्तर); गृहीतताम्बूलो → गृहीतताम्बूलः (प्रथमा एकवचन)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma on secrecy of counsel and ministerial conduct; Agni Purana: sections on daily royal regimen and court protocol
FAQs
It teaches rajadharma/statecraft: discreet conduct, protecting confidential counsel (mantra-rakṣā), interpreting the king’s expressions and gestures (ākāra–iṅgita), and court protocol including verified food consumption and proper positioning near the king.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical governance knowledge—security of deliberations, behavioral intelligence (reading signals), and royal household protocols—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of administrative science alongside ritual and doctrine.
By emphasizing restraint, truth-aware discernment, and protection of rightful counsel, it frames ethical service to the ruler as dharmic duty—reducing harm from rash speech and safeguarding social order, which is treated as a meritorious support of dharma.