Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 44
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
कुर्यादुद्योगसम्पन्नानध्यक्षान् सर्वकर्मसु कृषिर्वणिक्पथो दुर्गं सेतुः कुञ्जरबन्धनं
kuryādudyogasampannānadhyakṣān sarvakarmasu kṛṣirvaṇikpatho durgaṃ setuḥ kuñjarabandhanaṃ
Baginda hendaklah melantik para penyelia (adhyakṣa) yang bertenaga dan cekap bagi setiap urusan negara—untuk pertanian, laluan dagang, kubu, jambatan/tembok jalan, serta penambatan dan pengurusan gajah.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Public administration: appoint competent superintendents for key state sectors—agriculture, trade routes, fortifications, bridges/causeways, and elephant management—ensuring infrastructure and security.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"State superintendents for works: agriculture, trade routes, forts, bridges, elephants","lookup_keywords":["adhyakṣa","kṛṣi","vaṇikpatha","durga","setu","kuñjara-bandhana"],"quick_summary":"Effective governance requires specialized, energetic officers for each major public work and strategic asset. Sectoral oversight stabilizes food supply, commerce, defense, connectivity, and war-elephant readiness."}
Weapon Type: Elephants (gaja) as war asset; forts as defensive system
Concept: Dharma of rulership expressed as competent delegation (adhyakṣa system) and maintenance of the material bases of prosperity and security.
Application: Modern analogue: ministries/departments with accountable leadership for agriculture, transport, defense infrastructure, and strategic assets.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, administration, and public works)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A montage of state works: an officer overseeing ploughing and granaries; merchants on a trade road; engineers building a bridge; soldiers inspecting a fort; mahouts managing tethered elephants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative panels: kṛṣi fields, vaṇikpatha with caravans, durga with ramparts, setu over river, kuñjara-bandhana with elephants and mahouts, bold outlines and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on royal insignia and fort gates, five vignettes around a central king appointing adhyakṣas, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical-instructional feel: labeled scenes ‘kṛṣi’, ‘vaṇikpatha’, ‘durga’, ‘setu’, ‘kuñjara-bandhana’, fine detailing of tools, bridge structure, and elephant gear","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic administrative landscape: cultivated fields, bustling road with traders, stone bridge, hill-fort, elephant stables, naturalistic animals and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्यादुद्योगसम्पन्नानध्यक्षान् = कुर्यात् + उद्योगसम्पन्नान् + अध्यक्षान्; कृषिर्वणिक्पथो = कृषिः + वणिक्पथः
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma material on forts, roads, taxation, and army organization (near 238–240)
FAQs
Administrative vidyā (rāja-nīti): selecting capable superintendents (adhyakṣas) to oversee key sectors—agriculture, commerce routes, fortification, bridge/embankment works, and elephant management.
It treats practical statecraft alongside religious lore, detailing governance infrastructure—trade roads, forts, bridges, and war-logistics (elephants)—showing the text’s wide coverage beyond purely ritual or mythic topics.
By ensuring orderly administration and well-managed public works, a ruler supports dharma (social stability and welfare), which is traditionally held to generate merit through protection and prosperity of subjects.