Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 54
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
प्रलिम्पन्निव चेतांसि दृष्ट्वासाधु पिबन्निव ग्रसन्निवामृतं साम प्रयुञ्जीत प्रियं वचः
pralimpanniva cetāṃsi dṛṣṭvāsādhu pibanniva grasannivāmṛtaṃ sāma prayuñjīta priyaṃ vacaḥ
मन राग-मोहाने जणू माखले जात आहे असे पाहून, आणि दुष्ट जणू अपायकारक द्रव्य पित आहे असे पाहून, अमृत गिळल्यासारखे प्रिय वचनांनी साम (सांत्वन) वापरावे.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana’s instructional sections to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"कठिन/विकृत मनःस्थिति वाले व्यक्ति के साथ भी ‘साम’—मधुर, प्रिय वचन—का प्रयोग कर शान्ति/वशता उत्पन्न करना।","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"साम-नीति में प्रियवचन: ‘अमृत-ग्रहण’ उपमा","lookup_keywords":["साम","प्रियं वचः","अमृत","दृष्ट्वासाधु","चेतांसि"],"quick_summary":"जब मन मलिन/लिप्त दिखे और दुष्ट व्यक्ति हानिकर ‘पान’ करता प्रतीत हो, तब भी साम-नीति के रूप में प्रिय वचन ऐसे प्रयोग करें जैसे अमृत का ग्रास—शमनकारी और हितकर।"}
Alamkara Type: Upama (इव-प्रयोग), Rupaka-सदृश भावचित्र
Concept: वाणी-साधना: प्रियवचन द्वारा चित्त-शुद्धि/शमन और सामाजिक समन्वय।
Application: संघर्ष-प्रबन्धन, कूटनीति, परामर्श—पहले ‘soft power’ (साम) का प्रयोग।
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-shastra: Niti and sweet speech in literary/ethical instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"एक मंत्री/गुरु क्रुद्ध/दुष्ट व्यक्ति के सामने शांत मुद्रा में मधुर वचन कह रहा है; ‘अमृत’ का प्रतीक (कलश/बूंद) वाणी के साथ दर्शाया गया है।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two figures in profile, one agitated with darkened aura, the other serene speaking gentle words, stylized amrita pot motif near speech, warm earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, counselor with gold-highlighted halo-like arch, offering a scroll of sweet speech, amrita kalasha with gold work, subdued villain figure softened","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined linework, didactic scene of negotiation, speech ribbon with ‘प्रियं वचः’, amrita imagery as metaphor, calm interior setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court chamber, diplomat speaking softly to a sullen adversary, delicate depiction of a nectar cup as metaphor, detailed textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रलिम्पन्निव = प्रलिम्पन् इव; दृष्ट्वासाधु = दृष्ट्वा असाधु; ग्रसन्निवामृतम् = ग्रसन् इव अमृतम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 240 (साम-नीति के प्रसंग)
FAQs
It teaches the technical upāya of Sāma—conciliation through gentle, pleasing speech—as a practical method of persuasion and conflict-management.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana includes applied disciplines like nīti (ethics) and statecraft; this verse preserves a core diplomatic tool (sāma) and its rhetorical application (priya-vacana).
Choosing pleasing, non-harmful speech helps restrain anger and hostility, supporting dharma through self-control and reducing negative karmic outcomes caused by harsh words.