Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
परस्मादर्शयेद्भयमिति ञ मन्त्रामात्यानुजादिक इति ञ दानवानेव शक्नोति संहतान् भेदितुं परान् त्रयासाध्यं साधयेत्तं दण्डेन च कृतेन च
parasmādarśayedbhayamiti ña mantrāmātyānujādika iti ña dānavāneva śaknoti saṃhatān bhedituṃ parān trayāsādhyaṃ sādhayettaṃ daṇḍena ca kṛtena ca
‘ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣ ਨੂੰ ਡਰ ਦਿਖਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ’—ਇਹ ਨੀਤੀ ਹੈ; ਅਤੇ ‘ਮੰਤ੍ਰ, ਅਮਾਤ੍ਯ, ਅਨੁਜ/ਸਹਾਇਕ ਆਦਿ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ’—ਇਹ ਵੀ ਨੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਕੇਵਲ ਸਾਧਨ-ਸੰਪੰਨ ਰਾਜਾ ਹੀ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਖੜ੍ਹੇ ਵਿਰੋਧੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੰਡ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜੋ ਤਿੰਨ (ਸਾਮ-ਦਾਨ-ਭੇਦ) ਨਾਲ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ, ਉਹ ਦੰਡ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਰਜ-ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਨਾਲ ਸਾਧੇ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s rajadharma narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Integrated policy doctrine: apply deterrence, counsel networks, and resource-based bheda; if sāma-dāna-bheda fail, escalate to daṇḍa with decisive execution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Upāya-krama: Bhaya, Mantra-amātya-sāhāyya, Bheda; then Daṇḍa","lookup_keywords":["sāma-dāna-bheda-daṇḍa","bhaya","mantra","amātya","daṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"Maxims of policy: make the enemy perceive fear; employ counsel, ministers, and allies; only a capable ruler can split a united foe—what the three soft means cannot achieve must be done by punishment and decisive action."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Pragmatic hierarchy of means (upāya): soft measures first, coercion when necessary; competence is defined by ability to break enemy unity.
Application: In conflict management, attempt negotiation/incentives/division; if failure persists, employ lawful coercion with clear execution plans and accountability.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Statecraft: counsel, ministers, coercion, and strategic policy)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A strategic sequence: the king projects fear to the enemy, consults ministers and allies, orchestrates division in a united hostile camp; finally, troops march as daṇḍa is applied when softer means fail.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, multi-scene narrative band: (1) king with fierce posture and royal standard causing enemy fear, (2) council of ministers, (3) enemy camp split into arguing groups, (4) disciplined army advancing, bold colors and rhythmic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king enthroned with ministers and allied princes, gold-leaf emphasis on royal insignia, separate vignette of enemy ranks breaking apart, concluding vignette of army with weapons and banners, ornate gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional stepwise composition labeled as sāma/dāna/bheda/daṇḍa, king consulting, envoys negotiating, spies dividing, then troops mobilizing, clean lines and calm didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, sequential court-and-campaign scenes: durbar consultation, secret emissaries, enemy camp intrigue, final march with cavalry and infantry, detailed landscape and architecture, nuanced expressions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: परस्मादर्शयेद्भयम् → परस्मात् + दर्शयेत् + भयम् (त् + भ → द्भ); मन्त्रामात्यानुजादिकः → मन्त्र + अमात्य + अनुज + आदिकः; दानवानेव → दानवान् + एव; साधयेत्तं → साधयेत् + तम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (nīti maxims; upāya doctrine)
FAQs
It teaches rāja-nīti (political strategy): apply fear and strategic counsel through ministers and allies; attempt the three non-violent upāyas first (sāma, dāna, bheda), and if they fail, use daṇḍa (coercive force) along with decisive practical action.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves applied disciplines like governance and diplomacy; this verse summarizes core statecraft tools (upāyas), showing the text’s broad, handbook-like coverage of worldly administration.
It frames force (daṇḍa) as a last resort after measured, less harmful means—supporting dharmic kingship where power is exercised responsibly to protect order and reduce unnecessary violence.