Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 37
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
रक्षितं व्यसनेभ्यश् च मित्रं ज्ञेयं चतुर्विधं मित्रे गुणाः सत्यताद्याः समानसुखदुखता
rakṣitaṃ vyasanebhyaś ca mitraṃ jñeyaṃ caturvidhaṃ mitre guṇāḥ satyatādyāḥ samānasukhadukhatā
ਮਿੱਤਰ ਨੂੰ ਚਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਸਮਝਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ; ਜੋ ਵਿਪੱਤੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰੇ ਉਹੀ ਸੱਚਾ ਮਿੱਤਰ ਹੈ। ਮਿੱਤਰ ਦੇ ਗੁਣ ਸੱਚਾਈ ਆਦਿ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਖ-ਦੁੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਮਾਨ ਸਾਂਝ—ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਤੇ ਗ਼ਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਕੋ ਜਿਹਾ ਨਾਲ ਨਿਭਾਉਣਾ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Nīti/Rājadharma discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidelines for selecting and evaluating trustworthy friends/allies for personal life and statecraft; building resilient support networks in crisis.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Catuर्विध-मित्र (Fourfold friend) and मित्र-गुण (Virtues of a friend)","lookup_keywords":["मित्र","चतुर्विध","सत्यता","समानसुखदुःखता","आपद्रक्षण"],"quick_summary":"A true friend is recognized by protective support in adversity and by virtues such as truthfulness and shared solidarity in joy and sorrow. Use these traits as criteria for alliance and intimacy."}
Concept: मित्रधर्म—सत्य, निष्ठा, आपत्सहायता, सहभाव (shared joy and grief) as ethical markers of friendship.
Application: Choose confidants and allies by testing truthfulness and crisis-support; cultivate reciprocity and emotional steadiness in relationships.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Niti-shastra (Friendship, counsel, and ethics of conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder or minister is shown being protected by a steadfast friend during a calamity; the friend stands beside him in both celebration and mourning, symbolizing समानसुखदुःखता and सत्यता.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, two noble friends with calm faces; one shielding the other from a storm and then standing together at a lamp-lit festival; flat warm palette, ornate borders, expressive eyes, Sanskrit labels ‘सत्यता’ ‘आपद्रक्षण’.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on garments and jewelry; central pair of friends, one offering protective hand and the other clasping hands in trust; two side panels: joy scene and grief scene; rich reds and greens, embossed gold motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework; instructional tableau with four small medallions indicating ‘fourfold friend’ and a main panel showing truthfulness and shared joy/sorrow; soft shading, minimal background, caption-like cartouches.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly setting; a loyal companion intervenes during a crisis petition; separate vignette shows both friends at a feast and at a funeral; fine textiles, architectural detail, subdued naturalistic colors."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vyasanebhyaś ca = vyasanebhyaḥ + ca (visarga before ca). satyatādyāḥ = satyatā + ādyāḥ. samānasukhadukhatā analyzed as samāna + (sukha-duḥkha) + tā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 238 (Rajadharma/Niti: मित्र-लक्षण, अमात्य/सेवक-नीति)
FAQs
Nīti-vidyā (practical ethics): it defines reliable friendship as protection in adversity and lists core virtues such as truthfulness and steadfast companionship in both joy and sorrow.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied social and political ethics (rājadharma/nīti), giving actionable criteria for counsel and alliances—key concerns for rulers and communities.
Choosing truthful, steadfast companions supports dharmic living, reduces harm in crisis, and strengthens satya (truth) and saṅga (right association), which are treated as spiritually uplifting and karma-protective.