Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 38
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
विवृद्धाः शत्रवश् चैव विनाशाय भवन्ति ते दूष्यस्य दूषणार्थञ्च परित्यागो महीयसः
vivṛddhāḥ śatravaś caiva vināśāya bhavanti te dūṣyasya dūṣaṇārthañca parityāgo mahīyasaḥ
敵が増長して強くなれば、まさしく滅亡の因となる。また、非難すべきものを非難するために、偉大な人がそれを捨て去ることは、それ自体が重い原理である。
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Strategic counsel: prevent enemy aggrandizement and practice principled renunciation of blameworthy conduct/policies to preserve legitimacy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Growth of Enemies and the Principle of Renouncing the Blameworthy","lookup_keywords":["vivṛddha-śatru","vināśa","dūṣya","parityāga","mahīyas"],"quick_summary":"Allowing enemies to grow leads to ruin; a great person’s renunciation of what is censurable is itself a major rule of conduct and statecraft."}
Concept: Greatness includes the capacity to abandon censurable actions; ethical self-correction is a pillar of durable power.
Application: Audit policies and personal conduct; abandon exploitative measures, corrupt advisors, and unjust practices that create enemies and strengthen rivals.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, statecraft, and ethical counsel)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A wise ruler receiving counsel: on one side an enemy army growing in strength; on the other the ruler discarding a corrupt decree or symbol of wrongdoing, signifying renunciation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, counselor (mantrin) gesturing to a swelling enemy force in the background, king calmly casting away a dark scroll labeled 'dūṣya', balanced composition, bold outlines and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with halo-like arch, gold-leaf emphasis on the act of 'parityāga'—dropping a tainted object; enemy camp shown as expanding banners, ornate court setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: top—enemy growth leading to collapse; bottom—king renouncing blameworthy practice and stabilizing realm; fine lines, soft colors, explanatory captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate council chamber with detailed textiles; outside the window enemy ranks multiply; king hands over a corrupt edict to be burned, nuanced facial expressions and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; दूषणार्थञ्च = दूषणार्थम् + च (म् + च → ञ्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 240 (nīti on enemies, vices, and artha-doṣa)
FAQs
This is Nīti-vidyā (practical statecraft/ethics): it warns that strengthened enemies lead to ruin and teaches that a leader should abandon blameworthy practices to uphold dharma and public trust.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves governance manuals (Rajadharma/Nīti), including political risk (enemy growth) and ethical policy (renouncing censurable conduct), showing its multi-disciplinary scope.
Renouncing what is दूष्य (blameworthy) is a dharmic purification: it reduces negative karma, strengthens satya/śīla, and aligns personal and royal conduct with righteous order.