Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 83
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
धर्मश्चार्थश् च कीर्तिञ्च लोकपङ्क्तिरुपग्रहः प्रजाभ्यो बहुमानञ्च स्वर्गस्थानञ्च शाश्वतम्
dharmaścārthaś ca kīrtiñca lokapaṅktirupagrahaḥ prajābhyo bahumānañca svargasthānañca śāśvatam
धर्म, अर्थ, कीर्ती, समाजपंक्तीचा आधार, प्रजांमध्ये मान-सन्मान आणि स्वर्गातील शाश्वत स्थान—हे सर्व प्राप्त होते।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the primary narrator of Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"A king (and any householder) uses this as a results-map: righteous governance and conduct yield prosperity, reputation, social support, public honor, and posthumous merit—guiding policy choices toward dharmic means.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Phala of Dharma for a Ruler (Prosperity, Fame, Heaven)","lookup_keywords":["rajadharma","dharma-phala","kirti","svarga","praja-bahumana"],"quick_summary":"Dharmic conduct is presented as a multi-layered reward system: it stabilizes society (support and honor), increases worldly success (artha, fame), and culminates in enduring heavenly merit."}
Concept: Dharma is both socially productive (loka-saṅgraha) and spiritually fruitful (svarga), harmonizing artha with righteousness.
Application: Frame governance and personal conduct around non-harm, fairness, and generosity to gain legitimacy, cohesion, and long-term welfare.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Dāna–Puṇya–Phala (Kingship, merit, and rewards of righteous conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A righteous king seated in court, subjects arranged in orderly ranks offering respect; symbols of prosperity and a celestial path indicating svarga-phala.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, a dharmic king in sabha with prajās in orderly rows, lotus motifs, subtle depiction of svarga-loka above, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central crowned king with prabhavali-like arch, gold leaf highlights on throne and ornaments, attendants and subjects offering garlands, small vignette of svarga at top with devas","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, courtly scene emphasizing ethical governance, inscriptions of key words (dharma, artha, kīrti), soft palette and delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar scene with the king dispensing honor, layered crowd composition, architectural backdrop, marginal illumination hinting at heavenly reward"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धर्मश्च = धर्मः + च; अर्थश् च = अर्थः + च; कीर्तिञ्च = कीर्तिम् + च; लोकपङ्क्तिरुपग्रहः = लोकपङ्क्तिः + उपग्रहः; बहुमानञ्च = बहुमानम् + च; स्वर्गस्थानञ्च = स्वर्गस्थानम् + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (Rajadharma: dāna–puṇya–phala context); Agni Purana 258 (transition to Veda-vidhi: merit via mantra/ritual)
FAQs
It conveys rajadharma-oriented phala-śruti: the practical outcomes of righteous conduct—social support, subjects’ esteem, prosperity, and lasting heavenly merit.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s statecraft-and-ethics strand by listing concrete civic and karmic results (public backing, reputation, prosperity, svarga) alongside dharma, integrating governance with soteriology.
The verse frames dharma as producing both worldly stability (artha, kīrti, public support) and transcendent reward (śāśvata svarga-sthāna), linking ethical rule to enduring karmic merit.