Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 5
Sahāya-sampattiḥ (Securing Support/Allies): Royal Appointments, Court Offices, Spies, and Personnel Ethics
सभासदस्तु धर्मज्ञा लेखको ऽक्षरविद्धितः आह्वानकालविज्ञाः स्युर्हिता दौवारिका जनाः
sabhāsadastu dharmajñā lekhako 'kṣaraviddhitaḥ āhvānakālavijñāḥ syurhitā dauvārikā janāḥ
സഭാസദർ ധർമ്മജ്ഞരായിരിക്കണം; ലേഖകൻ അക്ഷരലിപിയിൽ പ്രാവീണ്യമുള്ളവനായിരിക്കണം. വിളിപ്പിന്റെ യോജ്യകാലം അറിയുന്ന സേവകർ ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കണം; ദ്വാരപാലകർ വിശ്വസ്തരും ഹിതൈഷികളും ആയിരിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vashistha, within the Agni Purana’s rajadharma discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Court governance: selecting dharma-competent assembly members, literate scribes, punctual summoning attendants, and trustworthy doorkeepers to ensure fair procedure and controlled access.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Court Assembly Staffing: Dharmic Judges, Scribe, Summoning Attendants, Doorkeepers","lookup_keywords":["sabhasad dharmajna","lekhaka aksharavit","ahvana-kala","dauvarika","vyavahara sabha"],"quick_summary":"Specifies qualifications for court personnel: dharma-knowing councillors/judges, a skilled scribe, attendants who know summons timing, and reliable doorkeepers for orderly legal administration."}
Concept: Justice depends on qualified persons and correct procedure (dharma + lekhyapramana + niyama).
Application: Institutionalize court roles: ethical adjudicators, accurate record-keeping, regulated summons, and vetted access control.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Court administration and legal procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court hall: dharma-knowing councillors seated; a scribe writes on palm-leaf; attendants manage summons timing; doorkeepers stand at the entrance controlling access.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: sabha hall with seated dharmajna sabhasads, lekhaka with stylus and palm-leaf, attendants gesturing timekeeping, dauvarikas at ornate doorway; bold outlines, warm earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gilded court scene with throne and assembly; scribe with manuscript, doorkeepers with staffs at jeweled doorway; gold work on pillars and textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition showing roles in a courtroom—judges, scribe, summons attendants, doorkeepers—soft colors, precise linework, readable props (palm-leaf, inkpot).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed durbar with clerks and guards; scribe recording proceedings; attendants calling parties at appointed times; intricate carpets, arches, and marginal flora."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सभासदः+तु→सभासदस्तु; लेखकः+अक्षरविद्धितः→लेखको 'क्षरविद्धितः; स्युः+हिताः→स्युर्हिताः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vyavahara (legal procedure) portions on sabha, lekhyas, and witnesses; Agni Purana Rajadharma guidance on appointing trustworthy servants
FAQs
It gives practical administrative guidance for a royal court: appoint dharma-knowing assessors, a literate and trained scribe for records, attendants who understand summons timing/protocol, and trustworthy doorkeepers.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied knowledge of statecraft and legal process—staff roles, documentation, and courtroom protocol—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of governance (rajadharma) alongside other sciences.
By ensuring dharma-guided adjudication and honest record-keeping, the king’s administration avoids injustice, reducing collective sin (adharma) and supporting righteous order (dharma) in society.