Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Rāja-dharma (राजधर्माः) — Protection of the Heir, Discipline, Counsel, and the Seven Limbs of the State
अधिकारेषु सर्वेषु विनीतं विनियोजयेत् मृगयां पानमक्षांश् च राज्यनाशंस्त्यजेन्नृपः
adhikāreṣu sarveṣu vinītaṃ viniyojayet mṛgayāṃ pānamakṣāṃś ca rājyanāśaṃstyajennṛpaḥ
ಎಲ್ಲ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿಯ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜನು ವಿನೀತನೂ ತರಬೇತಿ ಪಡೆದವನೂ ಆದವರನ್ನೇ ನೇಮಿಸಬೇಕು. ಬೇಟೆ, ಮದ್ಯಪಾನ, ಪಾಶ ಜೂಜು—ರಾಜ್ಯನಾಶಕ ದೋಷಗಳು—ಇವನ್ನು ಆಡಳಿತಗಾರನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Public administration policy: appoint trained, disciplined officers; institute anti-vice rules for rulers (avoid hunting-addiction, alcohol, gambling) to prevent state failure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rājānaḥ durvyasanāni (Royal vices causing state-ruin) and Vinīta-niyoga (Appointment of the disciplined)","lookup_keywords":["adhikāra","vinīta","mṛgayā","pāna","akṣa"],"quick_summary":"Place disciplined persons in all responsible offices. The king should abandon hunting, drinking, and dice-gambling—classic vices that destroy the kingdom."}
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Indriya-nigraha and vinaya are prerequisites for authority; royal vices are structural causes of rājyānāśa.
Application: Codify eligibility for office (training, conduct); enforce ruler’s code of abstinence from addictive pastimes; create oversight for treasury and court leisure.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma (Governance and Kingly Conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in council appoints disciplined officials; nearby, symbolic temptations—hunt, wine, dice—are shown being rejected or cast aside.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal durbar, king seated with ministers, scroll of appointments, to one side a hunter with bow, a wine-cup bearer, and dice players shown as rejected temptations, bold colors and ornate patterns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, king enthroned with gold-leaf halo-like arch, presenting seals of office to disciplined officials, discarded dice and wine cup at the foot of the throne, rich gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, administrative scene with labeled objects (akṣa dice, pāna cup, mṛgayā bow), king gesturing ‘no’ while appointing a calm, modest official, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court appointment ceremony, detailed costumes, a servant removing a tray with wine and dice, a hunting falconer turned away, architectural depth and delicate palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pānamakṣāṃś = pānam + akṣān + (ś) (sandhi/orthographic); rājyanāśaṃstyajen = rājya-nāśam + tyajet (anusvāra sandhi); tyajennṛpaḥ = tyajet + nṛpaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma chapters on amātya selection, durvyasana, and rājanīti
FAQs
Practical rāja-nīti: appoint disciplined, trained persons to all administrative posts, and avoid destabilizing royal vices—hunting, intoxication, and gambling.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage of polity and administration (rājadharma) alongside ritual and theology—giving concrete governance rules for staffing and for preventing state decline.
Renouncing addictive and harmful indulgences is presented as dharmic self-restraint; it protects the ruler’s moral authority and reduces adharma that would otherwise lead to collective suffering and the kingdom’s downfall.