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Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11

Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः

The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority

सामन्तकोषो वाह्यस्तु मन्त्रामात्यात्मजादिकः अन्तःकोषञ्चोपशाम्य कुर्वन् शत्रोश् च तं जयेत्

sāmantakoṣo vāhyastu mantrāmātyātmajādikaḥ antaḥkoṣañcopaśāmya kurvan śatroś ca taṃ jayet

「外庫(外の財源)」とは、従属諸侯(sāmanta)と同盟の資源、さらに顧問・大臣・王子らを含む。加えて「内庫(内の財源)」を鎮め堅固にしたうえで、敵に向かいこれを征服すべきである。

sāmanta-koṣaḥthe treasury/resources of feudatories
sāmanta-koṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsāmanta (प्रातिपदिक) + koṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष (सामन्तानां/सामन्तसम्बद्धः कोषः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
vāhyaḥexternal
vāhyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootvāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण
tubut / indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, निपात
mantra-amātya-ātmaja-ādikaḥ(consisting of) counsellors, ministers, sons, and others
mantra-amātya-ātmaja-ādikaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmantra (प्रातिपदिक) + amātya (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक) + ādika (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमुच्चय-द्वन्द्व (list compound: ministers, counsellors, sons, etc.), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘-ādika’ indicates ‘and others’
antaḥ-koṣamthe internal treasury/resources
antaḥ-koṣam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootantaḥ (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + koṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष (अन्तःस्थितः कोषः), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)
upaśāmyahaving pacified
upaśāmya:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootupa√śam (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having pacified/appeased’
kurvandoing / while doing
kurvan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु)
Formशतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
śatroḥof the enemy
śatroḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootśatru (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, समुच्चय
tamhim
tam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
jayetshould conquer
jayet:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ji (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Rajadharma instruction)

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Strategic resource accounting: distinguish external support networks (allies, feudatories, ministers, princes) from internal fiscal stability; secure internal resources before launching conquest.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bāhya-koṣa and Antaḥ-koṣa (External and Internal Treasury)","lookup_keywords":["koṣa","bāhya-koṣa","antaḥ-koṣa","sāmanta","conquest"],"quick_summary":"External treasury includes feudatories and allied power-resources; once the internal treasury is pacified and secured, the king should proceed to conquer the enemy."}

Concept: State as a system of koṣa (resources): internal stability precedes external victory.

Application: Before expansion or major projects, secure cashflow, logistics, and internal cohesion; then leverage alliances for external objectives.

Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Statecraft, Treasury, Ministers, and Conquest Policy)

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king reviews ledgers and granaries (internal treasury) while envoys from feudatory chiefs and allied princes present tribute and troops (external treasury), preparing for a campaign.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, palace treasury room with stacked coins and grain jars, king with palm-leaf accounts, sāmanta chiefs offering tribute, soldiers lined with banners, strong outlines and saturated colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with accountants and ministers, gold-embossed treasury chests, allied chiefs in ornate attire offering gifts, symbolic map of enemy land, rich gold work and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional tableau: labeled internal treasury (granary, mint, storehouse) and external treasury (feudatories, ministers, princes), king pointing to plan of campaign, delicate shading and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed treasury audit scene with scribes, scales weighing coins, allied chiefs arriving with tribute, background shows mustering troops, fine architectural perspective"}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: कोषो → कोषः; वाह्यस्तु → वाह्यः + तु; मन्त्रामात्यात्मजादिकः → मन्त्र + अमात्य + आत्मज + आदिकः; अन्तःकोषञ्चोपशाम्य → अन्तःकोषम् + च + उपशाम्य; शत्रोश् च → शत्रोः + च

Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (rāja-nīti: ministers, allies, conquest policy)

S
Sāmanta (feudatories)
M
Mantrin (counsellors)
A
Amātya (ministers)
Ā
Ātmaja (royal sons)
Ś
Śatru (enemy)

FAQs

It imparts rajadharma/statecraft: classify and stabilize the king’s strategic resources (kośa)—external supports like feudatories and key personnel—then secure internal resources before launching a campaign for victory.

Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical political science—administration, ministerial structure, alliances, and war-planning—showing its broad, encyclopedic scope.

In rajadharma terms, victory is framed as righteous governance: maintaining order through disciplined control of resources and counsel, minimizing chaos and adharma that arise from an unsteady treasury and factional discord.