Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 20
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
धनधाराप्रवर्षित्वाद्देवादौ वरुणः स्मृतः क्षमया धारयंल्लेकान् पार्थिवः पार्थिवो भवेत्
dhanadhārāpravarṣitvāddevādau varuṇaḥ smṛtaḥ kṣamayā dhārayaṃllekān pārthivaḥ pārthivo bhavet
ເນື່ອງຈາກທ່ານເຮັດໃຫ້ສາຍທານແຫ່ງຊັບສິນຕົກລົງດັ່ງຝົນ ຈຶ່ງຈື່ຈຳເທວະນັ້ນເປັນອັນດັບຕົ້ນວ່າ ວະຣຸນະ (Varuṇa). ແລະຜູ້ປົກຄອງແຫ່ງແຜ່ນດິນ—ຜູ້ຮັບໄວ້ໂລກດ້ວຍຄວາມອົດທົນ—ຍ່ອມເປັນ «ປາຣຖິວະ» ຢ່າງແທ້ຈິງ.
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Model kingship as wealth-distribution (public finance) and governance through kṣamā (forbearance), sustaining social order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Varuṇa as Wealth-Rain and the Kṣamā-bearing Pārthiva","lookup_keywords":["Varuṇa","dhanadhārā","pārthiva","kṣamā","rājadharma"],"quick_summary":"A ruler is praised when he ‘rains’ wealth through just distribution and supports the realm through patience; such conduct fulfills the meaning of ‘pārthiva’—one who bears the earth."}
Alamkara Type: Nirukti/Śleṣa (etymological play)
Concept: Ruler’s legitimacy arises from loka-dhāraṇa (supporting the world) through kṣamā and welfare-oriented wealth flow.
Application: Adopt patient adjudication, avoid rash punishment, and ensure fair revenue use for public good (relief, works, salaries).
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Kingship, governance, and duties of rulers)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king on a throne oversees distribution of coins and grain like ‘rain’, while a calm, patient posture symbolizes kṣamā; Varuṇa’s watery aura appears as a divine archetype behind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal king with parasol, attendants pouring coins/grain from vessels like rain, stylized waves and Varuṇa motif in background, bold outlines and flat color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, regal king with gold-embossed throne, shower of gold coins rendered with gold leaf, Varuṇa as a haloed deity with watery blue-green backdrop, ornate jewelry and textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, governance tableau: treasury clerks, measured distribution to subjects, king’s composed face indicating forbearance, soft gradients and fine ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature court scene, diwan distributing stipends, detailed ledgers and coin trays, architectural pavilion, subtle cloud-like motif of ‘wealth-rain’, refined facial expressions of patience."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dhanadhārāpravarṣitvāddevādau → dhanadhārāpravarṣitvāt + deva-ādau; dhārayaṃllekān → dhārayan + lokān (anusvāra/ll orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (upāya: sāma etc., governance virtues); Agni Purana 226 (danda and fines as governance tools)
FAQs
It imparts rāja-nīti/rajadharma knowledge: a king is defined functionally as one who sustains society through kṣamā (forbearance), while Varuṇa is characterized by ‘raining’ prosperity—an administrative ideal of welfare and stability.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies political vocabulary and governance ethics—giving compact, definition-style teachings that link divine models (Varuṇa) to practical statecraft (the king’s duty to uphold the people).
The verse elevates kṣamā as a dharmic power: by restraining anger and sustaining others, a ruler gains legitimacy and merit, becoming a true protector of the earth rather than merely a holder of authority.