Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Adhyaya 222 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharmāḥ): Duties of Kings (Administrative Order, Protection, and Revenue Ethics
धर्मागमो रक्षणाच्च पापमाप्नोत्यरक्षणात् सुभगा विटभीतेव राजवल्लभतस्करैः
dharmāgamo rakṣaṇācca pāpamāpnotyarakṣaṇāt subhagā viṭabhīteva rājavallabhataskaraiḥ
Dengan perlindungan, dharma ditegakkan; dengan kelalaian melindungi, dosa diperoleh. Laksana wanita beruntung yang takut pada muncikari, namun juga terancam oleh orang-orang kesayangan raja dan para pencuri.
Lord Agni (instructional narration in the Agni Purana’s rājadharma/nīti section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Teaches that protection is the root of public order and dharma; negligence multiplies threats from intermediaries, elites, and criminals—useful for anti-corruption and policing policy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Rakṣaṇa as the source of dharma; arakṣaṇa as the source of pāpa","lookup_keywords":["rakṣaṇa","arakṣaṇa","pāpa","rājavalabha","taskara"],"quick_summary":"Protection preserves dharma; failure to protect generates sin and exposes the vulnerable to exploitation by brokers, royal favorites, and thieves."}
Alamkara Type: Upama
Concept: State protection is a dharmic instrument; absence of protection is itself adharma producing pāpa.
Application: Strengthen safeguards for vulnerable groups; regulate intermediaries; curb ‘favorites’ (patronage networks) and theft through impartial enforcement.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Nīti-śāstra (Governance, protection, and consequences of negligence)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vulnerable woman-like figure symbolizing the people, surrounded by a procuress-like broker, arrogant royal favorites, and lurking thieves; the king’s protective presence determines safety.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, allegorical female figure as ‘prajā’ at center, three threats around—broker woman, jeweled courtiers, masked thieves—king as guardian at one side, bold outlines and moral storytelling panel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central ‘prajā’ figure with ornate jewelry, gold-leaf highlights on courtiers, darker thieves at edges, king’s protective hand gesture (abhaya-like) as dharma symbolism.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean narrative compartments: (1) protection leading to dharma, (2) neglect leading to harassment by intermediaries/favorites/thieves; fine shading and instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, street-and-court juxtaposition: courtiers extorting, thieves in alley, broker negotiating; the king’s patrol absent/present as the turning point; rich architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dharmāgamo → dharma + āgamaḥ; rakṣaṇācca → rakṣaṇāt + ca; pāpamāpnoty- → pāpam + āpnoti; āpnotyarakṣaṇāt → āpnoti + arakṣaṇāt; viṭabhīteव → viṭabhītā + iva; rājavallabhataskaraiḥ is a compound in instrumental plural.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Nīti passages on daṇḍa (punishment) and the king’s duty to restrain amātyas and upajīvins; Agni Purana sections on social order and protection of women/weak
FAQs
It imparts nīti/rajadharma knowledge: a ruler’s core technical duty is rakṣaṇa (protection); neglect (arakṣaṇa) is itself a source of pāpa (moral/legal fault).
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical statecraft: beyond rituals and theology, it codifies governance principles—public security, accountability, and the ethics of administration.
Protection sustains dharma and yields merit, while negligence generates pāpa; the verse frames governance failures as karmically consequential, not merely administrative mistakes.