Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
Prātyahika-Rāja-Karma
Daily Duties of a King
अनुलिप्तो ऽलङ्कृतश् च मुखं पश्येच्च दर्पणे ससुवर्णे धृते राजा शृणुयाद्दिवसादिकं
anulipto 'laṅkṛtaś ca mukhaṃ paśyecca darpaṇe sasuvarṇe dhṛte rājā śṛṇuyāddivasādikaṃ
अनुलेपन करून व अलंकृत होऊन राजा आरशात आपले मुख पाहावे; मग सुवर्ण धारण करून दिवसाचे शुभलक्षण इत्यादी ऐकावे।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Auspicious daily observance for rulers: after grooming and self-inspection, the king receives the day’s calendrical/omenic briefing (tithi, vāra, nakṣatra, muhūrta) while holding/adorning gold as a śrī-lakṣaṇa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daily Auspicious Briefing (Divasādika) after Adornment and Mirror-Viewing","lookup_keywords":["anulepana","alaṅkāra","darpaṇa","suvarṇa","divasādika"],"quick_summary":"After anointing and adorning himself, the king should view his face in a mirror and, with gold as an auspicious sign, hear the day’s calendrical particulars to time actions properly."}
Concept: Kāla-jñāna (knowledge of time) and śrī-lakṣaṇa (auspicious markers) guide effective action; outer order supports inner steadiness.
Application: Have court astrologer/purohita deliver a daily pañcāṅga briefing; schedule audiences, travel, punishments, and gifts according to muhūrta and omens.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Royal Rituals and Auspicious Daily Observances)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Palace
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a palace chamber, the king—anointed and ornamented—looks into a mirror; an astrologer-priest presents a palm-leaf pañcāṅga and recites the day’s tithi and nakṣatra; the king holds or wears gold as an auspicious token.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, richly colored palace interior, king with sandal paste and ornaments gazing into a hand mirror, priest with palm-leaf almanac pointing to tithi/nakṣatra, attendants holding gold tray, oil lamps and pillars","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, king adorned with jewelry, mirror reflecting face, priest holding pañcāṅga scroll, gold coins and ornaments prominently rendered with embossed shine","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise and instructional: mirror-viewing and grooming, then astrologer briefing with labeled pañcāṅga elements (vāra, tithi, nakṣatra, yoga, karaṇa), calm palette and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate dressing chamber, king before mirror with attendants, court astrologer reading from manuscript, gold objects on carpet, detailed textiles and architectural niches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अनुलिप्तो 'लङ्कृतश् → अनुलिप्तः अलङ्कृतः; पश्येच्च → पश्येत् च; शृणुयाद्दिवसादिकं → शृणुयात् दिवस-आदिकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Jyotiṣa/pañcāṅga and muhūrta-related passages (where present); Agni Purana Rajadharma daily regimen and auspicious observances
FAQs
It teaches a king’s auspicious morning protocol: personal anointment and adornment, viewing oneself in a mirror, holding/wearing gold as a śubha-dravya, and then receiving the day’s calendaric/auspicious briefing (divasādika) used for planning royal actions.
It integrates royal governance (rāja-nīti/rajadharma) with ritual auspiciousness and practical Jyotiṣa-style day-assessment (tithi-vāra-nakṣatra type indicators), showing how the text spans administration, ritual protocol, and time-reckoning guidance.
By beginning the day with śauca (orderly preparation) and śubha-lakṣaṇa (auspicious acts and timing), the king aligns actions with dharma and favorable omens, aiming to reduce obstacles and accrue merit through disciplined, ritually mindful conduct.