Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 66
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
अन्याये व्यसने युद्धे प्रवृत्तस्यानिवारणं उपेक्षेयं स्मृता भ्रातोपेक्षितश् च हिडिम्बया
anyāye vyasane yuddhe pravṛttasyānivāraṇaṃ upekṣeyaṃ smṛtā bhrātopekṣitaś ca hiḍimbayā
അന്യായം, ദുരന്തം, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ യുദ്ധം എന്നിവയിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ചവനെ തടയാതിരിക്കുക ‘ഉപേക്ഷ’ എന്ന ദോഷമായി സ്മൃതിയിൽ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു; ഉദാഹരണമായി ഹിഡിംബയാൽ ഒരു സഹോദരനും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കപ്പെട്ടതായി പറയുന്നു।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethics of responsibility: restrain rash action in injustice/calamity/battle; failure to intervene is culpable neglect—useful for counsel, command responsibility, and family duty.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Upekṣā as Culpable Neglect in Crisis (Anāyye–Vyasane–Yuddhe)","lookup_keywords":["upeksha","anivaranam","yuddha-dharma","vyasana","duty-to-restrain"],"quick_summary":"When someone rushes into harmful action amid injustice, calamity, or battle, not restraining them is defined as blameworthy neglect. The text cites Hiḍimbā’s neglect of a brother as an illustrative precedent."}
Alamkara Type: Dṛṣṭānta (illustrative example)
Concept: Omission can be sin: upekṣā (neglect) is culpable when one could restrain harmful action in crisis.
Application: In governance, family, and military contexts, establish intervention norms—counsel, restrain, and de-escalate; document responsibility to prevent ‘bystander’ failure.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Ethics of conduct, duty, and social responsibility)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tense scene of crisis: a warrior rushes toward battle or a reckless act; a brother/companion stands aside in neglect; a counselor points out the duty to restrain, with a remembered vignette of Hiḍimbā’s neglect.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural moral tableau: central figure rushing forward with dynamic posture, another figure turned away symbolizing upekṣā, a sage-like counselor gesturing admonition, strong outlines and symbolic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting ethical scene with gold-accented figures: impulsive warrior, restraining hand extended by a minister, negligent bystander in shadow, ornate border, didactic mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting instructional panel: three-part sequence—(1) injustice/calamity/battle setting, (2) attempt to restrain, (3) neglect labeled upekṣā; clean lines and explanatory layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with narrative split: foreground a rash advance toward conflict, background a bystander failing to stop him, a learned advisor gesturing; fine detail and expressive faces"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pravṛttasyānivāraṇaṃ → pravṛttasya anivāraṇam; bhrātopekṣitaś → bhrātā upekṣitaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Nīti discussions on duties of kin, ministers, and commanders (general)
FAQs
It imparts a niti (ethical-legal) principle: in injustice, disaster, or war, one bears fault if one does not restrain a person who has impulsively entered harmful action—this omission is categorized as upekṣā (culpable neglect).
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies practical dharma for society—here, a rule of responsibility in crisis and conflict, aligning the text with governance, ethics, and conduct literature (nīti/rajadharma).
The verse frames passive indifference during wrongdoing or crisis as a morally accountable act; karmically, failing to prevent harm when able is treated as a dharmic lapse comparable to neglecting one’s duty of protection and counsel.