Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 32
Rāja-dharma (राजधर्माः) — Protection of the Heir, Discipline, Counsel, and the Seven Limbs of the State
भृतो वत्सो जातबलः कर्मयोग्यो यथा भवेत् तथा राष्ट्रं महाभाग भृतं कर्मसहं भवेत्
bhṛto vatso jātabalaḥ karmayogyo yathā bhavet tathā rāṣṭraṃ mahābhāga bhṛtaṃ karmasahaṃ bhavet
हे महाभाग! जसा वाढवलेला वासरू बलवान होऊन कामास योग्य ठरतो, तसा नीट पोसलेला राज्यही कार्य सहन करून ते साध्य करण्यास समर्थ होतो।
Lord Agni (instructional narration typical of Agni Purana’s rājadharma sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"State-building principle: invest in maintenance and welfare so the kingdom becomes strong, productive, and capable—like a nurtured calf becoming fit for work.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Nīti: The ‘reared calf’ analogy for nurturing the kingdom’s capacity","lookup_keywords":["rāṣṭra-bharaṇa","poṣaṇa","karmasaha","vatsa-dṛṣṭānta","rāja-pālana"],"quick_summary":"A kingdom thrives when maintained and nourished; sustained support turns it into a resilient, productive base for governance and public works."}
Alamkara Type: Upama / Dṛṣṭānta
Concept: Pālana (care/maintenance) precedes extraction; strength arises from nourishment and time.
Application: Prioritize irrigation, justice, disaster relief, and fair taxation so the realm becomes ‘work-capable’—able to fund defense, projects, and welfare sustainably.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma (Governance and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pastoral-policy allegory: a calf being carefully reared by a herdsman becomes a strong ox fit for ploughing; mirrored by a king nurturing his realm—irrigation, granaries, and content subjects—leading to a strong state.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: king blessing farmers; granary and irrigation canal; beside it a calf growing into a strong bull; stylized cows, warm palette, decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central king with gold halo overseeing prosperous fields; embossed gold on granary and plough; calf-to-bull motif in a side medallion; rich ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional agrarian governance scene—ploughing, storehouses, officials distributing support; calf rearing shown sequentially; fine linework and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed rural landscape with cattle, plough, canal; king or governor inspecting works; naturalistic animals and textiles, balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विशेष सन्धि नहीं; महाभाग (सम्बोधन) पदम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma on protection of subjects, treasury management, and public works
FAQs
It teaches a statecraft principle: sustained support and proper maintenance (bharaṇa/poshana) makes the kingdom capable of undertaking and enduring administrative and economic burdens.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana includes rājadharma—practical governance guidance—showing it functions as a multi-topic manual covering political economy and administration.
Nourishing and sustaining dependents and the realm is framed as righteous kingship (dharma); such welfare-oriented rule supports social order and accrues merit through protection and proper stewardship.