Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 4
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
अन्तःपुरे त्वधिकृतः स्यादन्तर्वंशिको जनः सौविदल्लाः कञ्चुकिनः स्थापत्याः सौविदाश् च ते
antaḥpure tvadhikṛtaḥ syādantarvaṃśiko janaḥ sauvidallāḥ kañcukinaḥ sthāpatyāḥ sauvidāś ca te
Во внутренних покоях дворца (антаḥпура) назначенный надзиратель должен быть антарвамшика (antarvaṃśika) — доверенным чиновником внутреннего двора/евнухом. Под его началом состоят слуги саувидалла (sauvidalla), канджукины (kañcukin) — камер-стражи женских покоев, стхапатьи (sthāpatya) — надсмотрщики работ и строительства, а также саувиды (sauvida) — дворцовый обслуживающий персонал.
Lord Agni (narrating royal and administrative dharma to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Outlines inner-palace staffing and security chain-of-command for protecting royal household, managing access, and supervising works.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Antaḥpura administration: Antarvaṃśika and attendants","lookup_keywords":["antaḥpura","antarvaṃśika","kañcukin","sauvidalla","sthāpatya"],"quick_summary":"Specifies the superintendent of the inner palace and subordinate roles—chamberlains/guards, attendants, and works overseers—forming a controlled domestic administration."}
Concept: Royal household order (antaḥpura-niyama) is part of state stability; controlled access and delegated supervision protect dharma and reputation.
Application: Implement layered access control (kañcukin guards), trusted supervision (antarvaṃśika), and accountable maintenance (sthāpatya).
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Royal Administration and Palace Governance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside the women’s quarters: an antarvaṃśika supervises kañcukin guards at doorways, sauvidalla attendants in service, and sthāpatya overseers directing repairs and construction within palace corridors.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior palace corridor with guarded doorways, stylized attendants carrying trays and lamps, supervisor figure with staff of office, craftsmen in background repairing latticework, rich flat colors and ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted palace interior, chamberlains at ornate doors, attendants with fans and lamps, supervisor centrally placed, decorative arches and gilded details","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined indoor scene emphasizing roles: guards at thresholds, attendants in orderly lines, overseer pointing to architectural work, soft palette and precise outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, zenana corridor with guards and attendants, intricate textiles and architecture, subtle depiction of supervision and controlled access, fine detail and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamas","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tvadhikṛtaḥ→tu adhikṛtaḥ; syādantarvaṃśiko→syāt antarvaṃśikaḥ; sauvidāś ca→sauvidāḥ ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma passages on palace conduct and royal security; Agni Purana: sections on servants/officials classifications
FAQs
It imparts administrative knowledge: how the inner palace (antaḥpura) should be staffed and supervised—appointing an antarvaṃśika as superintendent with designated categories of attendants, guards/chamberlains, works-overseers, and service staff.
By cataloging specific court offices and functional roles within palace governance, it preserves practical statecraft and household-administration details alongside religious and cosmological topics—showing the Agni Purana’s broad coverage of dharma, polity, and institutional management.
As part of rājadharma, orderly staffing and secure management of the inner quarters supports protection of dependents and social propriety; fulfilling such prescribed duties is treated as dharmic conduct that sustains righteous kingship and reduces disorder (adharma) in the realm.