Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 15
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
दैवदैत्योरगनराः सिद्धा भूताः पतत्रिणः उत्क्रमेयुः स्वमर्यादां यदि दण्डान् न पालयेत्
daivadaityoraganarāḥ siddhā bhūtāḥ patatriṇaḥ utkrameyuḥ svamaryādāṃ yadi daṇḍān na pālayet
ទេវតា អសុរ នាគ មនុស្ស សិទ្ធៈ ភូត និងបក្សីទាំងឡាយ នឹងលើសលប់ព្រំដែនដែលបានកំណត់សម្រាប់ខ្លួន ប្រសិនបើ «ដណ្ឌ» មិនត្រូវបានរក្សាទុកឲ្យត្រឹមត្រូវ។
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Justifying enforcement institutions (courts, police, oversight) as universally necessary to prevent boundary-breaking and lawlessness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Universality of daṇḍa: all beings transgress without enforcement","lookup_keywords":["daṇḍa","maryādā","social order","cosmic order","transgression"],"quick_summary":"Without maintained punishment, every class of being—from gods to birds—would overstep its limits. Daṇḍa is portrayed as a universal regulator of maryādā (boundaries)."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Maryādā (limits) is sustained by enforceable norms; even ‘higher’ beings require restraint in the narrative logic of nīti.
Application: Frame laws as boundary-keeping; ensure consistent enforcement to prevent normalization of transgression.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Danda-niti / Governance and Law)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic panorama: gods, demons, nāgas, humans, siddhas, spirits, and birds each within their spheres, with a central emblem of daṇḍa maintaining boundaries like a pillar of law.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, cosmic register bands showing devas, daityas, nāgas, humans, siddhas, bhūtas, birds; central vertical daṇḍa as luminous staff; stylized clouds and lotuses; traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central golden daṇḍa as sacred scepter, surrounding medallions with each being-class, heavy gold work, symmetrical composition, temple-arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic cosmology with labeled groups and boundary lines (maryādā), central kingly daṇḍa icon, soft colors, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical court-cosmos: diverse beings in separate compartments of a garden/pavilion, central staff of authority, intricate detailing and calligraphic borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: daivadaityoraganarāḥ treated as dvandva: daiva-daitiya-uraga-narāḥ; svamaryādāṃ = sva-maryādām.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (daṇḍa as regulator of maryādā)
FAQs
It imparts danda-niti (the doctrine of punishment): the ruler’s enforcement of penalties is presented as the practical mechanism that preserves maryada (boundaries/propriety) across all classes of beings.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also systematizes governance: this verse condenses political theory—social stability depends on enforceable law—showing the text’s wide scope from dharma to statecraft.
Upholding danda in accordance with dharma is framed as maintaining cosmic and social order (maryada); neglect of just punishment enables adharma to spread, generating collective disorder and negative karmic outcomes.