Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 26
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
शूद्रकारुवणिक्प्रायो महारम्भः कृषी बलः सानुरागो रिपुद्वेषी पीडासहकरः पृथुः
śūdrakāruvaṇikprāyo mahārambhaḥ kṛṣī balaḥ sānurāgo ripudveṣī pīḍāsahakaraḥ pṛthuḥ
ಅವನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಶೂದ್ರರು, ಕಾರುಗಳು (ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರು) ಮತ್ತು ವಾಣಿಕರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಹೊಂದಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಮಹಾ ಉದ್ಯಮಗಳನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸುವವನು, ಕೃಷಿ ಮತ್ತು ಬಲದಲ್ಲಿ ತೊಡಗಿರುವವನು; ಸಾನುರಾಗಿಯು, ಶತ್ರುಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ದ್ವೇಷವಿರುವವನು, ಕಷ್ಟಸಹಿಷ್ಣು, ಮತ್ತು ವಿಶಾಲದೇಹಿ.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating Agni Purana’s instructional material to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Physiognomic/character sketch used for social-political profiling: occupational affinity, enterprise scale, agrarian orientation, loyalty/affection, hostility to enemies, endurance, and body-build—useful for role assignment and risk assessment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Svabhava-lakshana (Disposition Profile: Agrarian-Strong, Enduring, Broad-bodied)","lookup_keywords":["samudrika","svabhava","maharambha","krishi-bala","pida-sahakara"],"quick_summary":"A person’s social affinities, work-style, and bodily traits are read together: large undertakings, strength and agriculture, affection to allies, enmity to foes, endurance of hardship, and a broad frame."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Svabhava (disposition) manifests through social association, vocation, affect, and physique; governance benefits from reading these signs.
Application: In administration: assign such a person to agriculture, logistics, heavy works, or frontier defense; manage the 'ripudveshi' trait with oversight to prevent needless feuds.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Samudrika/Physiognomy (Characterology by Varna and Disposition)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A broad-shouldered, sturdy man overseeing ploughing and granaries, coordinating artisans and merchants, ready to confront enemies; visual emphasis on endurance and large undertakings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, strong agrarian leader with plough and staff, workers (artisan, merchant) nearby, enemy figures at distance, bold outlines and earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, stout figure with agricultural symbols (plough, sheaves) and strength emblems, gold detailing on tools and garments, composed but fierce gaze.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, character-study portrait with surrounding vignettes: farming, construction, guarding, enduring heat/rain; fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed rural-industrial scene: granary, market, fields, the protagonist directing operations; a small skirmish vignette indicating ripu-dvesha, rich textiles and realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi: śūdrakāruvaṇikprāyo→śūdra-kāru-vaṇik-prāyaḥ; mahārambhaḥ→mahā-ārambhaḥ; sānurāgo→sa-anurāgaḥ; ripudveṣī→ripu-dveṣī; pīḍāsahakaraḥ→pīḍā-saha-karaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on samudrika/lakshana and rajadharma role assignment (contextual)
FAQs
It gives a character-profile (lakṣaṇa) used in governance and assessment—linking occupational/social association (artisan-merchant-agricultural spheres) with temperament (enterprise, affection, enmity) and bodily build (broad frame).
Beyond ritual topics, it preserves applied “statecraft-adjacent” knowledge: typologies of people useful for administration, recruitment, and social observation—one of the many practical disciplines embedded in the Purana.
By emphasizing endurance (pīḍāsahakara) and disciplined engagement in work (kṛṣī, mahārambha), it implicitly values steadiness and duty-oriented effort as qualities that support righteous livelihood (dharma) and social order.