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Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 33

Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare

जयार्थी न च युद्ध्येत मतिमानप्रतिग्रहः यत्र राजा तत्र कोषः कोषाधीना हि राजता

jayārthī na ca yuddhyeta matimānapratigrahaḥ yatra rājā tatra koṣaḥ koṣādhīnā hi rājatā

Celui qui vise la victoire ne doit pas se ruer au combat; le sage doit demeurer incorruptible, hors d’atteinte des pots-de-vin. Là où se tient le roi, là se trouve le trésor; car la royauté dépend en vérité du trésor.

जय-अर्थीdesiring victory
जय-अर्थी:
विशेषण (Adjectival to प्रतिग्रहः/व्यक्ति implied)
TypeAdjective
Rootजय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण
not
:
निपात (negator)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)
and
:
समुच्चय (connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
युद्ध्येतshould fight
युद्ध्येत:
क्रिया (Predicate verb)
TypeVerb
Root√युध् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
मति-मान्-प्रतिग्रहःthe wise ‘pratigraha’ (tactic/person)
मति-मान्-प्रतिग्रहः:
कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमति (प्रातिपदिक) + मान् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (wise + pratigraha)
यत्रwhere
यत्र:
अधिकरण (Locative sense)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)
राजाking
राजा:
कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
तत्रthere
तत्र:
अधिकरण (Locative sense)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक-अव्यय (correlative adverb: there)
कोषःtreasury
कोषः:
कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकोष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
कोष-आधीनाdependent on the treasury
कोष-आधीना:
विशेषण (Adjectival to राजता)
TypeAdjective
Rootकोष (प्रातिपदिक) + आधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with राजता)
हिindeed, for
हि:
निपात (discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; emphasis/causal)
राजताkingship, royal power
राजता:
कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootराजता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Lord Agni (in instruction on Rajadharma/statecraft)

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Statecraft guidance: avoid impulsive war; uphold integrity against bribery; protect and mobilize the treasury as the material basis of sovereignty and governance.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kośa-mūla rājya (treasury as the basis of kingship) and war prudence","lookup_keywords":["kośa (treasury)","jayārthī","na yuddhyet (avoid rash war)","apratigraha (unbribable)","rājatā"],"quick_summary":"Victory requires restraint and incorruptibility; kingship depends on the treasury, so fiscal strength and ethical firmness are prerequisites for successful policy and warfare."}

Concept: Rāja-dharma unites nīti (prudence) and śīla (incorruptibility); material support (kośa) is necessary for protecting dharma in the realm.

Application: Build reserves, audit revenue, prevent corruption, and choose war only when objectives, resources, and timing align.

Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, statecraft, treasury, and kingship)

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Type: Kingdom

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in council restrains eager generals from rushing to war; beside him the treasury is shown as guarded coffers; a minister refuses a bribe offered by an envoy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; royal court scene with the king seated, ministers advising restraint; a bribe-offering figure rebuffed; guarded treasury room depicted to the side; solemn ethical tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore with gold; king with halo-like arch, gold-embossed treasury chests, ministers in orderly rows; symbolic gesture of refusal of bribe; rich ornamentation emphasizing sovereignty rooted in kośa.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; narrative-instructional court tableau: council deliberation, treasury accounting scrolls, guards at kośa; clear expressions showing prudence and incorruptibility.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed durbar with accountants and ledgers, guarded خزانہ-like treasury alcove, an envoy discreetly offering coins to a stern minister; king signaling ‘no war yet’; refined realism."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: जयार्थी = जय-अर्थी; मतिमानप्रतिग्रहः = मति-मान्-प्रतिग्रहः; कोषाधीना = कोष-आधीना.

Related Themes: Agni Purana: rāja-dharma and nīti sections on kośa, daṇḍa, and war policy; Agni Purana: counsel on ministers and corruption control

R
Raja (King)
K
Kosha (Treasury)

FAQs

It imparts rāja-nīti (statecraft): avoid premature warfare, maintain incorruptibility (apratigraha), and recognize the treasury (koṣa) as the operational basis of sovereignty.

Beyond ritual and theology, it preserves practical governance doctrine—war policy, administrative ethics, and fiscal foundations—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of public administration alongside religious subjects.

By advocating apratigraha (non-acceptance of corrupt gifts) and restraint in violence, it supports dharmic rule: ethical conduct reduces adharma-born consequences for the ruler and protects the realm’s moral order.