Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 35

Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings

Devanagari script

दूरादेवाभिगमनं स्पष्टार्थहृदयानुगा वाक् सत्कृत्य प्रदानञ्च त्रिविधो मित्रसङ्ग्रहः

Transliteration

dūrādevābhigamanaṃ spaṣṭārthahṛdayānugā vāk satkṛtya pradānañca trividho mitrasaṅgrahaḥ

Translation

ਦੂਰੋਂ ਹੀ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਮਿਲਣਾ, ਅਰਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਅਤੇ ਦਿਲ ਨੂੰ ਭਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਬਾਤ ਕਰਨੀ, ਅਤੇ ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਦਾਨ ਦੇਣਾ—ਮਿੱਤਰ-ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਤ੍ਰਿਵਿਧ ਢੰਗ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• dūrāt: from afar
• dūrāt: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक

• abhigamanam: approaching/coming to meet
• abhigamanam: Karma (कर्म) / Item in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhigamana (प्रातिपदिक; from √gam अभि-गम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक संज्ञा

• spaṣṭa-artha-hṛdaya-anugā: speech that follows a clear intention/heart
• spaṣṭa-artha-hṛdaya-anugā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: spaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक) + anugā (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √gam अनु-गम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; anugā = following/agreeing; qualifies ‘vāk’

• vāk: speech/words
• vāk: Karta (कर्ता) / Item in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• sat-kṛtya: having honored/respecting
• sat-kṛtya: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛtya (कृदन्त, √kṛ ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘सत्कृत्य’ = honoring respectfully

• pradānam: giving/a gift
• pradānam: Karma (कर्म) / Item in list
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradāna (प्रातिपदिक; from √dā प्र-दा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• trividhaḥ: threefold
• trividhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (‘त्रयो विधाः’), विशेषणम्

• mitra-saṅgrahaḥ: acquisition of friends
• mitra-saṅgrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Topic
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘मित्राणां सङ्ग्रहः’)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s primary dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: dūrādevābhigamanam resolved as dūrāt eva abhigamanam; pradānañca→pradānam ca.

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches a practical niti (statecraft) method for alliance-building: personally approach, speak clearly and pleasantly, and offer gifts respectfully.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied governance knowledge—diplomacy, interpersonal strategy, and political ethics—showing its wide coverage of practical sciences (niti/rajadharma).

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By emphasizing respectful approach, truthful-pleasant speech, and honorable giving, it promotes dharmic conduct that reduces hostility and supports harmony—actions traditionally linked with punya (merit) and social order.