Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 23
Rāja-dharma (राजधर्माः) — Protection of the Heir, Discipline, Counsel, and the Seven Limbs of the State
पूज्या देवा द्विजाः सर्वे दद्याद्दानानि तेषु च द्विजे दानञ्चाक्षयो ऽयं निधिः कैश्चिन्न नाश्यते
pūjyā devā dvijāḥ sarve dadyāddānāni teṣu ca dvije dānañcākṣayo 'yaṃ nidhiḥ kaiścinna nāśyate
ಎಲ್ಲ ದೇವರೂ ಮತ್ತು ಎಲ್ಲ ದ್ವಿಜರೂ ಪೂಜ್ಯರು; ಅವರಿಗೆ ದಾನಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಬೇಕು. ದ್ವಿಜನಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿದ ದಾನವು ಅಕ್ಷಯ ನಿಧಿ; ಅದು ಯಾವ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ನಾಶವಾಗದು.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) speaking to Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for householders and patrons on meritorious giving (dāna) toward devas and especially dvijas, framing charity as an imperishable spiritual asset.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Akṣaya-dāna to Dvija (Inexhaustible Merit of Gifts)","lookup_keywords":["dāna","dvija","akṣaya-nidhi","pūjya","puṇya"],"quick_summary":"Treat devas and dvijas as worthy recipients of reverence and gifts. Charity to a dvija is taught as an ‘akṣaya’ (non-perishing) store of merit."}
Concept: Puṇya as akṣaya-nidhi (imperishable moral capital) generated through proper dāna to worthy recipients.
Application: Prioritize vetted, dharmic recipients; give with respect (pūjā-bhāva) and without expectation of return.
Khanda Section: Dāna-Dharma (Charity, Merit, and Social-Religious Duties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shraddha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder respectfully offers gifts (food, cloth, gold, cows) to seated dvijas while invoking devas; the gifts are symbolized as an inexhaustible treasure chest (akṣaya-nidhi).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a gṛhastha in traditional attire offering dāna to serene dvijas with sacred thread, subtle divine presence above, stylized lotus motifs, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central dvija receiving dāna with gold-leaf highlights on vessels and ornaments, rich reds and greens, ornate arch framing, symbolic akṣaya-nidhi chest rendered with gilded relief","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: donor, recipients, items of dāna labeled visually (anna, vastra, hiraṇya), calm domestic setting, soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet devotional charity scene, fine textiles, detailed gift objects, architectural veranda, restrained palette with intricate borders, expressive faces showing reverence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūjyā devā → pūjyāḥ devāḥ (visarga restoration); dadyād dānāni → dadyāt dānāni; dānañ ca → dānam ca; cākṣayaḥ → ca akṣayaḥ; 'yaṃ → ayam; kaiścin na → kaiścit na.
Related Themes: Agni Purana dāna-dharma sections on dāna-bheda (types of gifts) and pātra-apātra (worthy/unworthy recipients); Agni Purana śrāddha/āhnika-related guidance where dvija-feeding is praised
FAQs
It teaches the dāna-vidhi principle that charity directed to devas (via worship/offerings) and to dvijas is especially meritorious, with gifts to dvijas described as akṣaya (inexhaustible) in karmic yield.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana systematizes practical dharma topics—here, norms of religious giving, recipient hierarchy, and the doctrine of akṣaya-puṇya—showing its broad coverage of social-ritual ethics alongside other sciences.
It frames dāna as a lasting spiritual “deposit” (nidhi): when given to worthy recipients, the merit is portrayed as non-perishing (akṣaya), supporting long-term karmic uplift and religious purification.