Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Ṣāḍguṇya — The Six Measures of Foreign Policy
with Rāja-maṇḍala Theory
विरक्तप्रकृतिश् चैव विषयेष्वतिशक्तिमान् अनेकचित्तमन्त्रश् च देवब्राह्मणनिन्दकः
viraktaprakṛtiś caiva viṣayeṣvatiśaktimān anekacittamantraś ca devabrāhmaṇanindakaḥ
ಅವನು ಸ್ವಭಾವತಃ (ಸದಾಚಾರದಿಂದ) ವಿರಕ್ತನಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ವಿಷಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿಯಾಗಿ ಆಸಕ್ತನು; ಅವನ ಸಲಹೆ ಚಂಚಲ, ಬಹುಚಿತ್ತ; ಮತ್ತು ಅವನು ದೇವರುಗಳೂ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರನ್ನೂ ನಿಂದಿಸುವವನು.
Lord Agni (narrating the dharma-teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethical vetting of counselors and associates: avoid appointing or trusting those showing hypocrisy, sensual addiction, fickle counsel, and sacrilegious speech that destabilizes polity and dharma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Adharmic Character—Marks of the Unfit Counselor","lookup_keywords":["vishaya-asakti","aneka-citta","mantra","deva-brahmana-ninda"],"quick_summary":"A person may appear detached yet be enslaved to sense-objects; fickle, many-minded counsel and contempt for gods and brāhmaṇas are red flags. Such traits predict unreliability and social-religious disruption."}
Concept: Inner disposition (svabhava) and speech toward sacred institutions are governance-critical indicators of adharmic drift.
Application: Use behavioral signs—addiction patterns, inconsistency in advice, and contempt for dharma-bearers—to screen advisors and companions.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Sadachara (Ethics and Conduct; signs of adharmic character)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court scene where a seemingly austere man secretly indulges in luxuries; his speech splits into many tangled scrolls symbolizing fickle counsel; he points derisively toward a temple and a brāhmaṇa, while the king looks wary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic moral tableau—two-faced counselor with one side ascetic, other side indulgent; swirling speech ribbons; temple and brāhmaṇa figures at side; strong gestures and bold color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central king with gold arch; to one side the duplicitous counselor holding a rosary and a wine-cup; embossed gold highlights on ornaments; small shrine and brāhmaṇa depicted with dignified posture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic composition showing ‘bad counselor’ traits in panels—sense indulgence, fickle advice (multiple thought bubbles), and sacrilege; fine lines, soft colors, clear labeling feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate court intrigue—advisor whispering contradictory counsel to different courtiers; subtle satire; temple courtyard in background; refined detailing of expressions and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caiva = ca + eva; viṣayeṣv- = viṣayeṣu + (following vowel); anekacittamantraś = aneka-citta-mantraḥ; devabrāhmaṇanindakaḥ compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sadachara sections on durjana-lakshana and satpurusha-lakshana (contextual); Agni Purana Rajadharma on selecting ministers and testing loyalty
FAQs
It provides a dharma-ethical diagnostic: identifying an adhārmika by excessive attachment to sense-pleasures, unstable counsel, and reviling gods and brāhmaṇas—useful for self-assessment and for choosing trustworthy advisers/associates.
Alongside rituals and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also catalogs social-ethical norms; this verse functions like a concise characterology within its dharma material, showing the text’s coverage of governance-ready ethics and practical moral instruction.
It warns that indulgence, fickle intent, and devabrāhmaṇa-nindā are marks of adharma that corrode merit (puṇya) and obstruct spiritual progress, urging restraint, reverence, and steadiness of mind.