Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 18
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
अभिषिञ्चेदमात्यानां चतुष्टयमथो घटैः चन्द्रालयमृदेति ज सरोमृदेत्यादिः संशोधयेत्तथेत्यन्तः पाठः ज पुस्तके नास्ति पूर्वतो हेमकुम्भेन घृतपूर्णेन ब्राहणः
abhiṣiñcedamātyānāṃ catuṣṭayamatho ghaṭaiḥ candrālayamṛdeti ja saromṛdetyādiḥ saṃśodhayettathetyantaḥ pāṭhaḥ ja pustake nāsti pūrvato hemakumbhena ghṛtapūrṇena brāhaṇaḥ
次いで、四人の大臣の組を、壺（灌頂水の器）によって灌頂（アビシェーカ）し奉るべきである。（本文伝承には「candrālaya-mṛt」「saro-mṛt」等の読みに校訂を要するものがあり、また結語「tathā …」は写本‘ja’には見えない。）初めに、ブラーフマナはギーで満たした金の壺をもって執行を開始する。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s dominant dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Protocol for ministerial installation within royal consecration: consecrating a set of four ministers using pots; emphasizes correct ritual materials (golden ghee-filled pitcher) and textual-critical awareness of variant readings.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Amātya-catuṣṭaya abhiṣeka: ghaṭābhiṣeka and hemakumbha-ghṛta-prayoga","lookup_keywords":["amātya-catuṣṭaya","abhiṣeka","ghaṭa","hemakumbha","ghṛta"],"quick_summary":"Four key ministers are ritually consecrated with abhiṣeka pots; the rite begins with a brāhmaṇa using a golden pitcher filled with ghee, underscoring auspicious substances and proper officiation."}
Concept: Legitimacy of governance is ritually constituted: ministers as pillars of rule are installed through consecratory acts using auspicious substances under brāhmaṇa guidance.
Application: During rājābhiṣeka cycles, include amātya-abhiṣeka with designated vessels; begin with hemakumbha filled with ghṛta as an auspicious opening act.
Khanda Section: Rāja-dharma / Rājābhiṣeka (Royal consecration and ministerial installation rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecration hall where four ministers stand in a row; a brāhmaṇa begins the rite holding a golden pitcher brimming with ghee, while other pots for abhiṣeka are arranged on a ritual platform.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, consecration pavilion, four ministers in formal attire, Brahmin priest holding a shining golden kumbha of ghee, rows of kalashas on a vedi, symmetrical composition, temple lamps","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heavy gold embellishment on the hemakumbha and royal ornaments, four ministers depicted with distinct insignia, ritual pots on a decorated platform, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout: four ministers labeled, sequence of pots, priest initiating with hemakumbha-ghṛta, fine detailing of vessels and ritual platform, calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar-like ritual, ministers in line, priest with golden ghee pitcher, intricate textiles and carpets, architectural arches, precise vessel rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: abhiṣiñcedamātyānāṃ → abhiṣiñcet amātyānām; catuṣṭayamatho → catuṣṭayam atha; textual note portions (‘ja’, variant remarks) treated as editorial and omitted from pada list except meaningful words; hemakumbhena → hema-kumbhena; ghṛtapūrṇena → ghṛta-pūrṇena.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 218 (rājābhiṣeka and associated installations)
FAQs
It gives a procedural rule in the rājābhiṣeka context: the four ministers are ritually consecrated using ritual pots (ghaṭa/kalasha), and a brāhmaṇa begins the rite carrying a golden pitcher filled with ghee.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves statecraft and court-ritual protocols—here, a governance-linked purification and installation rite for ministers—showing its coverage of practical polity (rājadharma) as well as ritual technique.
Consecration (abhiṣeka) functions as ritual purification and legitimization: it ritually qualifies ministers for office, aligning political authority with dharma and auspiciousness through sanctified substances (water in pots, and ghee in a golden vessel).