Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 15
Adhyaya 222 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharmāḥ): Duties of Kings (Administrative Order, Protection, and Revenue Ethics
चतुर्थमष्टमं भागं तथा षोडशमं द्विजः वर्णक्रमेण दद्याच्च निधिं पात्रे तु धर्मतः
caturthamaṣṭamaṃ bhāgaṃ tathā ṣoḍaśamaṃ dvijaḥ varṇakrameṇa dadyācca nidhiṃ pātre tu dharmataḥ
ਦੁਇਜ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨੂੰ ਵਰਣ-ਕ੍ਰਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਧਰਮ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਯੋਗ ਪਾਤਰ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਧਿ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਚੌਥਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ, ਅੱਠਵਾਂ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਅਤੇ ਸੋਲ੍ਹਵਾਂ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਦੇਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, as the principal narrator of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Set graded proportions of charitable distribution (or obligatory religious giving) according to varna-order and ensure the recipient is a qualified pātra; useful for householders managing wealth, endowments, and ritual gifts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Varṇa-krama dāna-bhāga (1/4, 1/8, 1/16) and pātra-nidhi-dāna","lookup_keywords":["dāna-bhāga","varṇa-krama","pātra","nidhi-dāna","dharma-dāna"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes graded shares (quarter, eighth, sixteenth) to be given in proper social order, and insists that wealth be placed with a worthy recipient (pātra) in conformity with dharma."}
Concept: Dāna must be proportionate, orderly, and directed to a qualified recipient; ethical distribution of wealth is itself dharma.
Application: When making gifts/endowments, calculate a defined share and verify recipient eligibility (conduct, learning, need, ritual fitness) before transferring valuables.
Khanda Section: Dāna-Dharma (Charitable giving, ritual distribution, and religious law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija householder measuring out portions of treasure into three lots (1/4, 1/8, 1/16) and offering them respectfully to a seated worthy recipient (pātra) with witnesses and ritual decorum.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: dvija donor in white dhoti with sacred thread, brass vessels of coins, palm-leaf ledger showing fractions, a serene learned recipient seated on a wooden plank, muted earth reds and greens, stylized architecture and lamps.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: donor presenting a gold-filled vessel to a dignified brāhmaṇa pātra, heavy gold leaf highlights on ornaments and vessels, temple arch backdrop, rich reds, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional tableau with clearly separated piles labeled 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 on a cloth, donor pointing while offering, fine linework, soft colors, minimal background for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly veranda scene with donor and recipient, attendants holding trays of coins, a scribe noting shares, delicate floral borders, precise textiles and architecture, subdued jewel tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dadyācca → dadyāt + ca; varṇakrameṇa → varṇa-krameṇa (tatpuruṣa).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dāna-dharma sections on pātra/apātra and dāna-phala; Agni Purana rules on varṇa-āśrama duties
FAQs
It teaches a rule of dharmic allocation: distributing prescribed fractional shares (1/4, 1/8, 1/16) in varṇa-order and giving wealth only to a qualified recipient (pātra).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s dharmaśāstric coverage—codifying practical norms for charity, social procedure (varṇa-krama), and eligibility (pātra)—alongside its many other disciplines.
Giving in the right measure, to the right recipient, and in accordance with dharma is presented as merit-producing (puṇya), preventing misdirected charity and aligning wealth-transfer with righteous order.