Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 15
Duties outside the Varṇa Order (वर्णेतरधर्माः) — Agni Purana, Chapter 151
सूतानामश्वसारथ्यं पुक्कसानाञ्च व्याधता स्तुतिक्रिया माघ्धानां तथा चायोगशस्य च
sūtānāmaśvasārathyaṃ pukkasānāñca vyādhatā stutikriyā māghdhānāṃ tathā cāyogaśasya ca
सूतों का कर्म अश्व-सारथ्य (रथ हाँकना) है; पुक्कसों का व्याधता (शिकार) है। मागधों का स्तुति-क्रिया (प्रशस्ति/कीर्तन) है; और अयोगशव का भी ऐसा ही स्तुति-सेवा से सम्बद्ध कर्म कहा गया है।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Provides a roster of customary livelihoods: charioteering, hunting, panegyric/eulogy, and service—useful for understanding traditional role allocation and, specifically, the Māgadha’s link to praise-poetry and courtly proclamation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Occupations of Sūta, Pukkasa, Māgadha, Āyogaśava","lookup_keywords":["Sūta","aśva-sārathya","Pukkasa vyādha","Māgadha stuti","Āyogaśava"],"quick_summary":"Assigns standard professions to named groups: Sūtas drive horses/chariots, Pukkasas hunt, Māgadhās perform stuti (eulogy/praise), and Āyogaśavas engage in similar service/praise-linked work."}
Alamkara Type: Stuti (panegyric) as a genre-function; not a specific alaṅkāra figure
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Social order is articulated through karma-vibhāga (division of work), including royal service (sārathi), subsistence (vyādha), and cultural labor (stuti).
Application: Explains how courts and polities function: drivers support warfare/transport, hunters supply resources, bards preserve reputation and legitimacy through praise.
Khanda Section: Varna-jati-vyavastha (Social duties and occupational classifications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fourfold occupational montage: a Sūta driving a chariot with horses; a Pukkasa hunter in forest with bow; a Māgadha bard reciting praise before a king with a vīṇā/drum; an Āyogaśava attendant performing service/praise near the court.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative strip with four scenes: chariot driver, forest hunter, bard singing stuti to a crowned king, court attendant; bold contours, rhythmic spacing, traditional earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central royal court with gold-leaf throne; foreground Māgadha bard singing praise, side vignettes of chariot driver and hunter, heavy ornamentation and rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional panels showing each profession with labeled tools (reins, bow, manuscript/instrument), fine linework, soft shading, didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court scene with bard performing, musicians, and king; separate margins show hunter in a wooded landscape and charioteer with horses, intricate textiles and naturalistic animals."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सूतानामश्वसारथ्यं = सूतानाम् + अश्वसारथ्यम्; पुक्कसानाञ्च = पुक्कसानाम् + च; चायोगशस्य = च + अयोगशस्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 151 (occupational duties list continuing from prior verses)
FAQs
It assigns traditional occupational roles to specific communities—charioteering (horse-driving), hunting, and formal praise-recitation—presented as part of jātidharma (community-based duty).
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also catalogs social regulations and practical livelihoods; this verse is a compact register of occupational taxonomy found in Dharma-style material.
Within the Purāṇic dharma framework, adhering to one’s prescribed duty (svadharma/jātidharma) is treated as conduct that supports social order and is believed to generate merit through disciplined livelihood.