Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 15
Rāja-dharma (राजधर्माः) — Protection of the Heir, Discipline, Counsel, and the Seven Limbs of the State
दीर्घसूत्रस्य नृपतेः कर्महानिर्ध्रुवं भवेत् रागे दर्पे च माने च द्रोहे पापे च कर्मणि
dīrghasūtrasya nṛpateḥ karmahānirdhruvaṃ bhavet rāge darpe ca māne ca drohe pāpe ca karmaṇi
દીર્ઘસૂત્રતા ધરાવતા નૃપ માટે શાસનકાર્યમાં હાનિ નિશ્ચિત છે—વિશેષ કરીને જ્યારે કર્મ આસક્તિ, દર્પ, માન, દ્રોહ અને પાપમય આચરણથી પ્રેરિત હોય।
Lord Agni (teaching polity/ethics in the Agni Purana discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Executive discipline: avoid procrastination and governance driven by passion, arrogance, pride, treachery, and sinful acts; these guarantee administrative failure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Doṣas causing karmāhāni in kingship: procrastination and moral vices","lookup_keywords":["dīrgha-sūtra","karmāhāni","rāga","darpa/māna","droha/pāpa"],"quick_summary":"Delay and vice-driven decisions destroy state work. A king must act timely and ethically, avoiding attachment, arrogance, pride, treachery, and sinful conduct."}
Concept: Kāla (timeliness) and śīla (ethical character) as prerequisites for successful karma (state action).
Application: Create time-bound decision cycles; enforce conflict-of-interest rules; punish treachery; cultivate humility and self-control in leadership training.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Niti-shastra / Kingship and Governance)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king delaying decisions while personified vices—attachment, arrogance, pride, treachery—hover; administrative work collapses (unread petitions, stalled projects).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural allegory: king seated indecisively, shadowy personifications of rāga/darpa/māna/droha around him, neglected scrolls and broken seals, bold flat colors and symbolic forms","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore moral tableau: king with heavy ornaments looking away from petitions, gold-embossed figures representing vices at his sides, scattered documents, dramatic but ornate composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore didactic scene: split-panel—left procrastinating king with vices, right timely disciplined king; clear gestures and labels implied, soft palette and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court clerks waiting with files, king distracted by indulgent companions, a traitor whispering; detailed paperwork, carpets, and architectural setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कर्महानिर्ध्रुवं → कर्म-हानिः + ध्रुवम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana rājadharma lists of rāja-doṣa and amātya-doṣa; Agni Purana teachings on kāla (timely action) in governance
FAQs
It imparts Niti (statecraft) guidance: a ruler must avoid procrastination and must not act from passion, arrogance, pride, treachery, or sinful motives, otherwise administrative work and royal duty collapse.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical governance doctrine (Rajadharma/Niti), giving administrative psychology and ethical constraints for rulers—showing its wide, encyclopedic scope.
It links inner vices (rāga, darpa, māna, droha, pāpa) to karmic and practical downfall: impure motives corrupt action, producing both moral demerit and inevitable failure in one’s duty (dharma).