Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 19
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
तच्छ्रुत्वोवाच राजा तं गृहीत्वाङ्घ्री क्षमाप्य च प्रसादं कुरु त्यक्त्वेमां शिविकां ब्रूहि शृण्वते यो भवान् यन्निमित्तं वा यदागमनकारणम्
tacchrutvovāca rājā taṃ gṛhītvāṅghrī kṣamāpya ca prasādaṃ kuru tyaktvemāṃ śivikāṃ brūhi śṛṇvate yo bhavān yannimittaṃ vā yadāgamanakāraṇam
L’ayant entendu, le roi lui dit : «Saisissant tes pieds et demandant pardon, sois-moi favorable. Abandonne cette litière et dis-le-moi, car j’écoute : qui es-tu, dans quel but, et quelle est la cause de ta venue ?»
The King (rājā) addressing an unknown revered person (likely an ascetic/sage) within Agni Purana’s narrative frame
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Model of royal humility and proper inquiry: seeking forgiveness, requesting instruction, and inviting identification/purpose from a visitor—useful for diplomatic and judicial encounters.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Royal Etiquette: Apology, Prasāda-request, and Inquiry","lookup_keywords":["kṣamā","aṅghri-grahaṇa","prasāda","paripraśna","śivikā-tyāga"],"quick_summary":"The king responds to instruction by apologizing, seeking grace, and asking structured questions (identity, purpose, cause of arrival). This is a procedural template for respectful governance and fact-finding."}
Alamkara Type: Vākya-śailī (dialogic narration)
Concept: Vinaya (humility) and paripraśna (right inquiry) are royal virtues that open access to true counsel.
Application: In administration: de-escalate conflict by apology where appropriate, then gather facts via clear questions before judgment.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Nīti-kathā (Kingship, humility, and inquiry in narrative dialogue)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king steps down from a palanquin, bows and touches a Brahmin’s feet, then gestures for him to speak while attendants hold the palanquin aside.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king in royal attire bending to touch sage’s feet, attendants with palanquin, expressive hand gestures of inquiry, temple-like framing and bold palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold embellishment on crown and palanquin, king in añjali and foot-touching pose, sage calm, ornate arch backdrop, devotional dignity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined court etiquette scene, clear depiction of foot-touching and listening posture, minimal background, emphasis on gesture and decorum","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed procession halted, king dismounting, sage seated, attendants and guards, architectural pavilion, nuanced expressions of apology and attention"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तच्छ्रुत्वोवाच = तत् + श्रुत्वा + उवाच; गृहीत्वाङ्घ्री = गृहीत्वा + अङ्घ्री; त्यक्त्वेमाम् = त्यक्त्वा + इमाम्; यदागमनकारणम् = यत् + आगमनकारणम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: nīti on sabhā-vyavahāra (court conduct), guru-brāhmaṇa-satkāra (honoring teachers), and kṣamā
FAQs
It imparts nīti/ācāra-vidyā: the correct royal etiquette of humility—seeking forgiveness by taking the feet, requesting grace (prasāda), and making a proper inquiry into identity, purpose, and cause of arrival.
Beyond rituals and cosmology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical dharma for governance and conduct. This verse exemplifies rajadharma through speech-acts: apology, deference, and structured questioning—core elements of polity and ethical administration.
Humility toward a worthy person and sincere kṣamā (seeking pardon) are presented as purifying acts that reduce arrogance and negative karma, aligning the king’s authority with dharma through reverence and truth-seeking.