Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
दण्डः कार्यो नरेन्द्रेण तस्याप्युत्तमसाहसः सत्यङ्कारेण वाचा च युक्तं पुण्यमसंशयं
daṇḍaḥ kāryo narendreṇa tasyāpyuttamasāhasaḥ satyaṅkāreṇa vācā ca yuktaṃ puṇyamasaṃśayaṃ
刑罰（ダンダ）は王によって執行されるべきであるが、それでさえ最上の慎重さと自制をもって行われねばならない。真実の誓約と真実の言葉に結びつくとき、それは疑いなく功徳となる。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for rulers and judges: administer punishment with utmost prudence and restraint; integrate truthful pledges and truthful speech to make governance ethically meritorious.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Daṇḍa with prudence, restraint, and truthfulness","lookup_keywords":["daṇḍa","nareन्द्र","uttama-sāhasa","satyaṅkāra","satya-vāc"],"quick_summary":"The king must punish, but with the highest carefulness and self-control; when punishment is grounded in truthful pledges and truthful speech, it becomes a source of merit and legitimacy."}
Concept: Ethical sovereignty: coercive power (daṇḍa) is righteous only when disciplined by truth and restraint.
Application: Adopt due process, measured sentencing, and truthful proclamations; avoid cruelty and arbitrariness to preserve legitimacy.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Law, and Punishment)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in court holds the staff of justice but keeps it lowered, listening to truthful testimony; a scribe records a solemn pledge; the atmosphere emphasizes restraint and ethical authority.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dignified king with subdued gesture, daṇḍa symbol present but non-threatening, witnesses with raised right hand in satyaṅkāra, warm earthy palette and ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, enthroned king with gold halo and arch, minister presenting a written pledge, witnesses swearing truth, gold-leaf highlights on staff and throne, serene authoritative mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic courtroom: oath-taking, truthful speech, measured sentencing; fine linework, clear iconography of restraint (lowered staff, open palm)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined durbar scene with judges and scribes, oath on a document, king’s restrained posture, detailed carpets and architectural depth, emphasis on calm justice"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्य+अपि+उत्तमसाहसः → तस्याप्युत्तमसाहसः; सत्य+अङ्कारेण → सत्यङ्कारेण; पुण्यम्+असंशयम् → पुण्यमसंशयम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (daṇḍa and rājadharma sequence); Agni Purana rājadharma/daṇḍanīti discussions elsewhere in the rājadharma khanda
FAQs
It teaches daṇḍa-nīti: the king’s practical method of enforcing punishment with disciplined restraint, grounded in truthful pledge and truthful speech.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies statecraft and legal ethics—here, a concise rule for administering punishment as a dharmic instrument rather than mere coercion.
When punishment is applied with truthfulness and principled restraint, it becomes puṇya (dharma-generating), reducing harm and aligning royal power with moral order.