Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 20
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
कथायोगेषु बुद्ध्येत वाग्मित्वं सत्यवादितां उतसाहं च प्रभावं च तथा क्लेशसहिष्णुतां
kathāyogeṣu buddhyeta vāgmitvaṃ satyavāditāṃ utasāhaṃ ca prabhāvaṃ ca tathā kleśasahiṣṇutāṃ
В дисциплинированном искусстве сочинения и произнесения повествований следует развивать: красноречие, правдивость речи, воодушевление, силу убеждения и также терпение к тяготам.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Training for narrative composition and delivery: cultivate eloquence, truthfulness, enthusiasm, persuasive impact, and resilience—useful for poets, storytellers, envoys, and court speakers.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Qualities for Kathā-Yoga (Narrative Craft and Delivery)","lookup_keywords":["kathāyoga","vāgmitva","satyavāditā","utsāha","prabhāva"],"quick_summary":"Effective narrative art requires eloquent speech, commitment to truth, energetic presentation, persuasive force, and the stamina to endure creative and performative hardship."}
Concept: Vāk-sādhana: disciplined speech and narrative practice grounded in truth and sustained effort yields prabhāva (impact).
Application: Practice structured storytelling; train voice and diction; maintain factual integrity; build stage-confidence; rehearse under constraints to develop klēśa-sahiṣṇutā.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Alankara and narrative composition)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court storyteller/poet recites a composed narrative before an audience; gestures show eloquence and enthusiasm; a scribe and teacher indicate disciplined training; the performer endures long rehearsal.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of a kathaka/paurāṇika in a temple hall, expressive hand gestures, attentive listeners, palm-leaf manuscript, warm lamps; emphasis on vācika expression and śāstra discipline","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf; central orator with ornate attire and halo-like backdrop, audience of nobles, manuscript stand, rich textiles; visual emphasis on prabhāva and dignity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style didactic scene: teacher coaching diction, performer practicing, then public recital; fine lines, soft colors, clear instructional mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature mehfil-like storytelling in a court pavilion; detailed faces, musical accompaniment subtle, manuscript in hand, refined architecture and carpets"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kambhoji","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कथायोगेषु (समास); क्लेशसहिष्णुताम् (समास)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sahitya/Alamkara chapters on guṇa-doṣa, kāvya-lakṣaṇa, kathā/ākhyāyikā; Agni Purana: Natya-related guidance (where present)
FAQs
It imparts sahitya-shastra guidance for kathā-yoga (the discipline of crafting and presenting narratives): develop eloquence, truthful speech, energetic initiative, persuasive impact, and endurance—practical competencies for a narrator/author.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also teaches applied arts like poetics and communication. This verse functions like a compact syllabus of authorial/narratorial virtues, showing the text’s coverage of literary theory alongside other sciences.
Truthful speech and disciplined endurance are classical dharmic virtues; when applied to teaching through narrative, they support ethical transmission of knowledge and reduce harm from deceptive or careless speech, strengthening merit through responsible instruction.