Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 16
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
यस्माददान्तान् दमयत्यदण्ड्यान्दण्डयत्यपि दमनाद्दण्डनाच्चैव तस्माद्दण्ड विदुर्बुधाः
yasmādadāntān damayatyadaṇḍyāndaṇḍayatyapi damanāddaṇḍanāccaiva tasmāddaṇḍa vidurbudhāḥ
それは、放縦なる者を制し、また本来罰すべからざる者さえ罰し得る。さらに、訓戒（ダマナ）と懲罰（ダンダナ）の双方をなすゆえ、賢者はこれを「ダンダ」daṇḍa と知る。
Lord Agni (teaching Rajadharma/Daṇḍanīti)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Understanding daṇḍa as both discipline (preventive restraint) and punishment (corrective chastisement); informs policy that combines deterrence with reform.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Etymological-explanatory sense of daṇḍa: restraining and punishing","lookup_keywords":["daṇḍa","damana","daṇḍana","nīti","etymology"],"quick_summary":"Daṇḍa is explained through its functions: it restrains the unrestrained and punishes; thus it is recognized as the operative principle of governance and correction."}
Alamkara Type: Nirvacana (etymological gloss)
Concept: Governance terms are understood by their operative effects; authority is justified as a corrective instrument.
Application: Blend preventive regulation (damana) with proportionate penalties (daṇḍana); build institutions for both supervision and adjudication.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Danda-niti / Governance and Punishment)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two-part allegory: on one side a teacher/king restrains a disorderly group (discipline), on the other a judge imposes a measured penalty (punishment), both under the emblem ‘daṇḍa’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split-panel composition: left—king’s guards calmly restraining unruly men; right—court scene with measured punishment; central daṇḍa motif; bold outlines and traditional ornament","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central daṇḍa with gold embossing; left vignette of discipline (training/curbing); right vignette of sentencing; rich textiles, temple arch, luminous highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic two-scene layout with captions ‘damana’ and ‘daṇḍana’, clean linework, soft washes, emphasis on procedure and proportionality","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, two registers: policing/discipline in bazaar and adjudication in court; fine facial expressions, detailed architecture, manuscript border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yasmādadāntān = yasmāt adāntān; damayatyadaṇḍyān = damayati adaṇḍyān; daṇḍayatyapi = daṇḍayati api; damanāddaṇḍanāccaiva = damanāt daṇḍanāt ca eva; tasmāddaṇḍa = tasmāt daṇḍam (final -m often elided in recitation); vidurbudhāḥ = viduḥ budhāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (definitions and functions of daṇḍa)
FAQs
It imparts daṇḍanīti (the science of punishment/governance): daṇḍa is defined functionally as the king’s coercive power that disciplines the undisciplined and administers chastisement to maintain order.
By giving a compact, technical definition of daṇḍa within Rajadharma, it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond myth—into political theory, legal reasoning, and statecraft vocabulary used in classical Indian governance.
It frames punishment as a dharmic instrument for social restraint and moral correction; when applied rightly it supports order (dharma), while misuse (punishing the not-to-be-punished) is implicitly warned against as a source of adharma and karmic fault.