Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 3
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
पौरुषं दैवसम्पत्त्या काले फलति भार्गव दैवं पुरुषकारश् च द्वयं पुंसः फलावहं
pauruṣaṃ daivasampattyā kāle phalati bhārgava daivaṃ puruṣakāraś ca dvayaṃ puṃsaḥ phalāvahaṃ
ਹੇ ਭਾਰਗਵ! ਦੈਵੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਨਾਲ ਪੁਰਖਾਰਥ ਸਮੇਂ ਸਿਰ ਫਲ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਮਨੁੱਖ ਲਈ ਦੈਵ ਅਤੇ ਪੁਰਸ਼ਕਾਰ—ਦੋਵੇਂ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਫਲਦਾਇਕ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (instructing Bhārgava)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Strategic planning: align human initiative with timing and enabling conditions (‘daiva-sampatti’), emphasizing patience, preparedness, and opportunistic execution for results.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Joint Causality: Daiva and Puruṣakāra as Co-producers of Results","lookup_keywords":["daiva-sampatti","kāla","phala","puruṣakāra","dvaya"],"quick_summary":"Effort fructifies in time when supported by favorable conditions; both destiny and exertion together yield outcomes. Practically, act vigorously while also cultivating conditions and timing."}
Concept: Results arise from a conjunction: puruṣakāra needs kāla and daiva-sampatti (supporting conditions), and daiva alone is incomplete without human action.
Application: For kings: prepare resources, alliances, and morale (conditions), then act decisively at the right time; for individuals: combine effort with patience and situational awareness.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Doctrine of human effort and divine providence)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A balanced allegory: two oxen yoked together pull a cart labeled ‘phala’—one ox is ‘daiva’, the other ‘puruṣakāra’; a sun-clock indicates ‘kāla’ as the timing of fruition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic yoke with two forces personified, cart of fruits/harvest labeled phala, sun-disc and time-wheel above, ornate temple border, saturated reds/ochres/greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embossed yoke and cart, two stylized figures/animals representing daiva and puruṣakāra, radiant gold sun for kāla, rich decorative frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional allegory with neat labels, soft gradients, emphasis on the yoke (coordination) and sun-clock (timing), minimalistic but elegant gold accents","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, pastoral scene with a cart being drawn by two animals, inscriptions on banners for daiva and puruṣakāra, detailed landscape and a prominent sun/time motif, fine brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दैवसम्पत्त्या = दैव + सम्पत्त्या; पुरुषकारश् च = पुरुषकारः + च (विसर्ग-सन्धिः); फलावहम् = फल + आवहम् (समास)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 224.33 (twofold dependence); Agni Purana 225.1–2 (daiva as past karma; effort overcoming adversity)
FAQs
This verse teaches Nīti-śāstra (practical ethics): success arises from combining puruṣakāra (disciplined personal effort) with daiva (favorable conditions/providence), emphasizing timing (kāla) and strategy in action.
Alongside rituals, cosmology, and specialized sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves statecraft and moral philosophy; this verse encapsulates a key governance principle—balancing initiative with circumstance—typical of its wide-ranging, encyclopedic scope.
Spiritually, it harmonizes karma (self-effort and past actions) with daiva (the ripening of karmic results through time), encouraging steady righteous effort while accepting outcomes as conditioned by providential timing.