Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
Sahāya-sampattiḥ (Securing Support/Allies): Royal Appointments, Court Offices, Spies, and Personnel Ethics
रत्नादिज्ञो धनाध्यक्षः अनुद्वारे हितो नरः स्यादायुर्वेदविद्वैद्यो गजध्यक्षो ऽथ हयादिवित्
ratnādijño dhanādhyakṣaḥ anudvāre hito naraḥ syādāyurvedavidvaidyo gajadhyakṣo 'tha hayādivit
रत्नादींचा जाणकार धनाध्यक्ष असावा; अंतर्द्वारी हितैषी व विश्वासू पुरुष नेमावा. वैद्य आयुर्वेदविद् असावा; तसेच गजाध्यक्ष व अश्वादींचा जाणकार अधिकारी असावा.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Rajadharma-arthashastra portion)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Administrative staffing: appoint a gem-assessing treasurer, a trustworthy inner-gate officer, a physician trained in Ayurveda, and specialized superintendents for elephants and horses to maintain fiscal integrity, security, and military readiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Key State Officers: Treasury, Inner Gate, Physician, Elephant and Horse Superintendents","lookup_keywords":["dhanadhyaksha ratnajna","anudvara","ayurvedavid vaidya","gajadhyaksha","hayadivit"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates essential officers: a treasury head skilled in gems/valuables, a reliable inner-gate official, an Ayurveda-trained physician, and expert chiefs for elephants and horses."}
Concept: Specialized knowledge (ratna-pariksha, Ayurveda, gaja/haya-vidya) is a prerequisite for office; dharma is protected through competence.
Application: Use domain qualification standards for appointments: valuation skills for treasury, vetted loyalty for inner security, certified medical expertise for healthcare, and technical mastery for animal corps.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Arthashastra (State administration and officers)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A state office montage: treasurer examining gems and coins; a loyal inner-gate guard at a secured doorway; an Ayurveda physician with herbs and texts; elephant and horse superintendents inspecting animals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: four-panel palace scene—ratna-pariksha at treasury, inner gate with guarded arch, vaidya holding palm-leaf Ayurveda text and herb bundle, gajadhyaksha beside caparisoned elephant and hayadhyaksha with a bridled horse; bold lines, flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: opulent treasury with gold accents; treasurer weighing gems; physician with ornate manuscript; elephant and horse with decorative trappings; gold leaf on jewelry and pillars.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of officers and tools—gem scale, gate keys/seals, Ayurveda text and mortar-pestle, elephant goad and horse tack; delicate shading and clarity of objects.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: realistic gem-testing table, guarded inner doorway, physician preparing a decoction, and animal inspection in a stable courtyard; fine architectural detail and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यात्+आयुर्वेदविद्वैद्यः→स्यादायुर्वेदविद्वैद्यः; गजाध्यक्षः+अथ→गजध्यक्षो 'थ (अ+अ→आ, क्+अ→ग्ध्य/ध्यक्ष-रूपेण पाठभेदः)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda-related chapters (vaidya qualifications, therapies); Agni Purana Dhanurveda/army organization passages on elephants and horses
FAQs
It specifies domain-competence for key offices—treasury management via gem/valuables expertise, gate security via loyal personnel, medical care via Ayurveda-trained physicians, and specialized animal departments for elephants and horses.
It integrates practical state administration with technical sciences (Ayurveda and animal-management), showing the Purana’s scope beyond ritual into governance, public health, and military-logistics support (elephants and cavalry).
By urging competent and ethical appointments, it promotes dharmic kingship—reducing harm, preventing corruption, and supporting welfare—actions traditionally framed as merit-producing (puṇya) through just governance.