Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 24

Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings

Devanagari script

शस्याकरवती पुण्या खनिद्रव्यसमन्विता गोहिता भूरिसलिला पुण्यैर् जनपदैर् युता

Transliteration

śasyākaravatī puṇyā khanidravyasamanvitā gohitā bhūrisalilā puṇyair janapadair yutā

Translation

ដីដ៏បុណ្យសក្ការៈ គឺដីដែលសម្បូរដោយស្រូវសាលី និងរ៉ែធាតុ មានប្រយោជន៍ដល់គោ សម្បូរទឹកធ្លាក់ធ្លាយ និងភ្ជាប់ជាមួយស្រុកភូមិដែលមានបុណ្យកុសល។

Word by Word

• śasya-ākaravatī: rich in crops and mines
• śasya-ākaravatī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śasya (प्रातिपदिक) + ākara (प्रातिपदिक) + vatī (प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'having mines of crops/produce'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• puṇyā: holy / auspicious
• puṇyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• khani-dravya-samanvitā: endowed with mineral wealth
• khani-dravya-samanvitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khani (प्रातिपदिक) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• go-hitā: beneficial to cows
• go-hitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (for the welfare of cows), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhūri-salilā: having abundant water
• bhūri-salilā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūri (प्रातिपदिक) + salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: 'much water'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• puṇyaiḥ: with virtuous
• puṇyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) (janapadaiḥ understood), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• janapadaiḥ: regions/settlements
• janapadaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janapada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• yutā: endowed / joined with
• yutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (धातु) + yuta (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle: 'joined/endowed'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: Kingdom

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi: śasyākaravatī→śasya-ākaravatī; khanidravyasamanvitā→khani-dravya-samanvitā; bhūrisalilā→bhūri-salilā; puṇyair janapadair→puṇyaiḥ janapadaiḥ.

Characters & Entities

• Gau (cattle)
• Janapada (realm/settlement)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It gives a practical checklist for assessing an auspicious and sustainable realm: agricultural fertility, mineral resources, reliable water supply, and protection/support of cattle.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves applied knowledge relevant to statecraft and settlement planning—linking prosperity (crops, mines, water) and social-religious merit (puṇya janapadas) to an ideal country.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

A land described as “puṇyā” and associated with “puṇya” settlements is portrayed as conducive to dharma and merit; choosing or maintaining such a realm supports righteous living and the accumulation of puṇya.