Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 40
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
राजा गवाभिचाराद्यं हन्याच्चैवाततायिनः परस्त्रियं न भाषेत प्रतिषिद्धो विशेन्न हि
rājā gavābhicārādyaṃ hanyāccaivātatāyinaḥ parastriyaṃ na bhāṣeta pratiṣiddho viśenna hi
രാജാവ് പശുക്കൾക്ക് ദോഷം ചെയ്യുന്നവരെയും അക്രമികളെയും വധിക്കണം. പരസ്ത്രീയോട് സംസാരിക്കരുത്, വിലക്കിയാൽ പ്രവേശിക്കരുത്.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Royal policy: punish harmful sorcery against cattle and execute violent aggressors; enforce social boundaries regarding others’ wives and prohibited entry (trespass/ban orders).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Royal enforcement: cattle-sorcery offences, ātātāyin execution, and conduct rules (parastrī-bhāṣaṇa, prohibited entry)","lookup_keywords":["gavābhicāra","ātātāyin","parastrī","pratiṣiddha-praveśa","rājadaṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"The king must punish harmful acts like cattle-sorcery and kill the violent aggressor; he should avoid improper interaction with another’s wife and uphold bans on entry to maintain order."}
Concept: Ruler’s self-restraint and strict enforcement together sustain social trust and protect vulnerable assets (cattle, households).
Application: Institutionalize bans, enforce them consistently, and require ethical conduct from officials/ruler to prevent abuse.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Nīti-śāstra (Governance and Penal Discipline)
Primary Rasa: dharma
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court issues punishment for cattle-sorcery; a violent aggressor is executed by guards; the king turns away from a noblewoman to show restraint; a barred doorway with a ‘forbidden’ sign is guarded to prevent entry.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, cows in foreground with protective symbols, sorcerer figure subdued, king in profile refusing improper conversation, guarded gate motif, saturated colors and temple-like framing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf on palace pillars and gate, king seated with raised hand of prohibition, guards at a sealed doorway, cows adorned, moral clarity in iconic arrangement.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional tableau: one panel shows ‘gavābhicāra’ offender punished, another shows ātātāyin subdued, another shows prohibited entry enforced; delicate lines and calm authority.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court scene with petitioners, a guarded gate with a posted order, subtle narrative of king’s restraint, detailed costumes and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हन्याच्चैव → हन्यात् + च + एव ; एवाततायिनः → एव + आततायिनः ; विशेन्न → विशेत् + न
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (rājadharma rules on offences and conduct)
FAQs
It imparts rājadharma (political-legal discipline): identifying punishable harms such as gavābhicāra (harmful sorcery aimed at cattle/property) and prescribing decisive action against an ātatāyin (immediate violent aggressor), along with rules of personal restraint and compliance with prohibitions.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a compendium by including nīti and jurisprudential norms—criminal categories (e.g., harmful abhicāra), emergency doctrines (ātatāyin), courtly/royal etiquette, and social boundaries—showing its breadth across religion, ethics, and governance.
By restraining unlawful desire (avoiding another’s wife), preventing harmful rites (abhicāra), and upholding just punishment, the king preserves dharma; such protection of social order is treated as meritorious and as reducing collective harm (pāpa) in the realm.