Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 9
Chapter 16 — बुद्धाद्यवतारकथनम्
Narration of Buddha and Other Incarnations
स्थापयिष्यति मर्यादां चातुर्वर्ण्ये यथोचिताम् आश्रमेषु च सर्वेषु प्रजाः सद्धर्मवर्त्मनि
sthāpayiṣyati maryādāṃ cāturvarṇye yathocitām āśrameṣu ca sarveṣu prajāḥ saddharmavartmani
ಅವನು ಚಾತುರ್ವರ್ಣ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಥೋಚಿತ ಮર્યಾದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಶಿಸ್ತು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸುವನು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಆಶ್ರಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಪ್ರಜೆಯನ್ನು ಸದ್ದರ್ಮದ ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಯೋಜಿಸುವನು.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical of the Agni Purana narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Blueprint for social restoration: re-establish boundaries (maryādā), duties, and life-stage disciplines; apply as governance policy and personal dharma planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maryādā-sthāpana: Reordering Cāturvarṇya and Āśrama Dharma","lookup_keywords":["maryādā","cāturvarṇya","āśrama","rajadharma","saddharma-vartman"],"quick_summary":"The ruler restores dharmic order by setting proper limits and duties for varṇa and āśrama, guiding people onto the path of true dharma. It is a procedural ideal for governance and social ethics."}
Concept: Maryādā (right boundaries) sustains society; varṇa-āśrama duties are instruments to align prajā with saddharma.
Application: For rulers: fair law, role-appropriate education, protection of livelihoods; for individuals: choose āśrama duties conscientiously and practice svadharma with restraint.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Varna-Ashrama-Dharma (Governance and Social Order)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A restored kingdom: a just ruler promulgates laws; four varṇas perform their duties; the four āśramas are shown as life-stages—students learning, householders giving charity, forest-dwellers practicing austerity, renunciants meditating—society aligned to saddharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panoramic dharma-restoration: king on throne with dharma-banner, four varṇas in distinct activities, four āśramas in separate vignettes, harmonious palette and temple narrative layout","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central enthroned dharmic ruler with gold aura, surrounding medallions depicting brāhmaṇa teaching, kṣatriya protection, vaiśya trade, śūdra service; āśrama scenes in corners, rich gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: labeled quadrants for four āśramas and four varṇas, king establishing maryādā at center, delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, orderly court issuing edicts, bustling yet harmonious city scenes of professions, ascetics at garden edge, fine architectural detail and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यथोचिताम् = यथा + उचिताम् (स्वर-सन्धि); सद्धर्मवर्त्मनि = सत् + धर्म + वर्त्मनि (त् + ध → द्ध)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma/danda-niti sections; Agni Purana: Varna-ashrama and vrata/dharma discussions
FAQs
It imparts rāja-nīti/rajadharma guidance: the ruler’s practical duty is to enforce maryādā (regulated boundaries) for varṇa and āśrama conduct so society functions according to sat-dharma.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies governance and social ethics; this verse exemplifies its dharmaśāstra-like coverage of administration, social regulation, and public morality.
By establishing dharmic order and guiding subjects onto sat-dharma, the ruler supports collective merit (puṇya), reduces adharma-driven disorder, and upholds the conditions for righteous living and liberation-oriented practice.