Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 33
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
आरोहणं न चेद्दद्यात् प्रतीपं वा गृहं व्रजेत् मदं वा वारणो जह्याद्राजघातकरो भवेत्
ārohaṇaṃ na ceddadyāt pratīpaṃ vā gṛhaṃ vrajet madaṃ vā vāraṇo jahyādrājaghātakaro bhavet
ଯଦି କେହି ଆରୋହଣ ପାଇଁ ଆସନ/ବାହନ ନ ଦିଏ, କିମ୍ବା ବିରୋଧୀ ଭାବେ ଘରକୁ ଯାଏ, କିମ୍ବା ହାତୀର ମଦ ହରାଇଦିଏ, ତେବେ ସେ ରାଜଘାତର କାରଣ/କର୍ତ୍ତା ହୁଏ।
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Court protocol and conduct rules framed as high-stakes: failures in royal service and hostile approach are treated as causes of regicide/royal ruin.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Rājaghātakara-nimitta: protocol breaches that become ‘king-killing’ causes","lookup_keywords":["rājaghātakara","ārohaṇa-dāna","pratīpa-gamana","gaja-mada","rāja-nīti"],"quick_summary":"Not providing proper mounting/assistance, approaching a house in hostility, or causing an elephant to lose musth are classified as acts that lead to the king’s destruction—i.e., grave breaches of royal order."}
Weapon Type: Elephant corps (gaja) and royal conveyance
Concept: Rājasevā (service to the king) and social conduct are framed as dharma with direct consequences for political survival.
Application: Codify and enforce court etiquette; treat negligence and hostile comportment as punishable security risks.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, royal protocol, and statecraft)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal attendant fails to provide a mounting step/stool; another figure approaches a house with hostile posture; a mahout mishandles an elephant causing it to lose musth—ministers warn these acts endanger the king.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, three-panel didactic scene: missing mounting aid, hostile approach to a doorway, elephant with subdued musth, ministers with stern gestures, strong outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted royal paraphernalia, attendant holding an unused mounting stool, elephant with ornate caparison, court scene emphasizing protocol, embossed jewelry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional triptych with clear gestures and courtly refinement, captions implied, emphasis on etiquette and elephant-handling","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court and street vignettes with precise architecture, expressive body language showing hostility, detailed elephant and mahout, officials recording the breach"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चेद्दद्यात् = चेत् + दद्यात्; जह्याद्राजघातकरः = जह्यात् + राजघातकरः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (Nīti/Rājadharma continuations around śakuna and conduct)
FAQs
It gives practical rājadharma guidance: specific breaches of royal protocol and security—refusing required mounting assistance, approaching in hostility, or interfering with a war/royal elephant’s musth—are treated as gravely dangerous acts.
Beyond theology, it preserves administrative and security norms of kingship, including courtly logistics (mounting/conveyance) and war-elephant management, showing the Purana’s coverage of governance and statecraft.
Such acts are framed as equivalent to causing the king’s death (a major sin/treason), implying severe karmic consequence and social condemnation for endangering sovereign order.