Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Chapter 237 — Rāma’s Teaching on Nīti (रामोक्तनीतिः)
शास्त्रं प्रज्ञा धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं प्रागल्भ्यं धारयिष्णुता उत्साहो वाग्मितौदार्यमापत्कालसहिष्णुता
śāstraṃ prajñā dhṛtirdākṣyaṃ prāgalbhyaṃ dhārayiṣṇutā utsāho vāgmitaudāryamāpatkālasahiṣṇutā
ຄວາມຮູ້ໃນຄຳພີແລະນະໂຍບາຍ, ປັນຍາໃນການປະຕິບັດ, ຄວາມໝັ້ນຄົງ, ຄວາມຊຳນານ, ຄວາມກ້າຫານໃນການລົງມື, ຄວາມອົດທົນຍືນຍົງ, ຄວາມພາກພຽນ, ວາຈາຄົມຄາຍ, ຄວາມໃຈກວ້າງ, ແລະຄວາມອົດກັ້ນໃນຍາມວິກິດ—ເຫຼົ່ານີ້ແມ່ນຄຸນທຳທີ່ຈຳເປັນ.
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s instruction to Vasiṣṭha on niti/rajadharma)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Competency framework for rulers/ministers: a checklist for recruitment, training, and evaluation—combining learning, judgment, resilience, communication, and crisis endurance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Daśa-guṇa—core virtues for governance and crisis","lookup_keywords":["śāstra","prajñā","dhṛti","dākṣya","vāgmitā","āpatkāla-sahiṣṇutā"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates essential virtues: learning, intelligence, steadiness, competence, initiative, perseverance, energy, eloquence, generosity, and crisis-endurance—forming a practical profile for effective rule."}
Concept: Rulership is a skill-and-virtue composite: knowledge + character + execution + communication + generosity + crisis tolerance.
Application: Use as an assessment rubric: test candidates on śāstra literacy, decision-making (prajñā), stress tests (dhṛti/āpat-sahiṣṇutā), operational tasks (dākṣya), and public speaking (vāgmitā).
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Qualities of a ruler/minister; statecraft virtues)
Primary Rasa: Vīra
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ruler surrounded by symbolic emblems of the ten virtues: books (śāstra), lamp (prajñā), mountain (dhṛti), tools (dākṣya), forward stride (prāgalbhya), firm grip (dhārayiṣṇutā), rising sun (utsāha), speaking gesture (vāgmitā), open hand (audārya), storm endured (āpatkāla-sahiṣṇutā).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king in center with ten surrounding icons in a circular mandala, bold flat colors, clear symbolic emblems, attendants and ministers in traditional attire.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central king with ornate gold arch, ten virtue emblems as gold medallions around, rich reds/greens, embossed gold for symbols like book, lamp, open hand.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic yet elegant: king with labeled virtue symbols, soft shading, fine linework, suitable for instructional poster-like composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical court portrait with objects placed around the ruler—books, tools, storm scene in background, orators and petitioners—high detail, refined palette, architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vāgmitaudāryamāpatkālasahiṣṇutā resolved as vāgmitā + audāryam + āpatkāla-sahiṣṇutā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 237 (nīti: virtues list and subsequent elaborations)
FAQs
It lists core competencies of niti (statecraft): mastery of authoritative shastras, administrative skill, persuasive speech, and the resilience needed to govern effectively—especially under pressure.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also functions as a manual of applied knowledge; here it codifies leadership and governance virtues, showing its coverage of rajadharma and practical ethics.
Cultivating these virtues supports dharma-based rule: it restrains harmful action, promotes welfare and generosity, and builds steadiness in adversity—qualities praised as dharmic conduct with beneficial karmic outcomes.