Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 7
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
अनष्टद्रव्यता राष्ट्रे तस्य संस्मरणादभूत् न नूनं कार्त्तवीर्यस्य गतिं यास्यन्ति वै नृपः
anaṣṭadravyatā rāṣṭre tasya saṃsmaraṇādabhūt na nūnaṃ kārttavīryasya gatiṃ yāsyanti vai nṛpaḥ
В царстве от памятования о нём возникло состояние «без утраты богатства». Воистину, те цари не достигнут удела Карттавирьи.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s instruction to Vasiṣṭha in the usual dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Governance lesson: public memory of an ideal ruler can stabilize economic trust (‘no loss of wealth’), yet rulers must avoid the moral errors that caused Kārtavīrya’s downfall.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Anāṣṭa-dravyatā (No-loss of Wealth) and the Cautionary Fate of Kārtavīrya","lookup_keywords":["anāṣṭa-dravya","rāṣṭra","smaraṇa","Kārtavīrya","nīti"],"quick_summary":"Collective remembrance of a strong ruler can produce economic security and reduced loss/theft, but mere emulation without dharma leads to ruin. The verse warns kings not to inherit Kārtavīrya’s end."}
Alamkara Type: Arthantaranyasa
Concept: Smaraṇa (collective remembrance) shapes social order; but destiny is governed by conduct—power without dharma ends in downfall.
Application: Policy: strengthen rule of law, protect property, deter theft; cultivate a reputation for justice; avoid arrogance and oppression that invite collapse.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Kingship, and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosperous kingdom where merchants travel safely and granaries are full, attributed to remembrance of a powerful ruler; in contrast, a faint vignette hints at Kārtavīrya’s tragic end as a warning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bustling yet orderly market and guarded roads, king’s emblem or portrait remembered by people, secondary vignette of fallen king as moral caution, bold flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, golden prosperity motifs (coins, granaries), king’s remembered image in a medallion with gold leaf, orderly subjects, ornamental borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional governance tableau: safe caravans, watchmen, न्यायसभा (court of justice) implied; subtle caution panel of downfall, fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed bazaar and caravan scene with guards, inscriptions about ‘no loss of wealth’, marginal miniature showing the cautionary fate of Kārtavīrya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संस्मरणात् + अभूत् → संस्मरणादभूत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma/Nīti passages on protection of subjects and wealth security (thematic); Agni Purana: Kārtavīrya narrative context (274.5–274.6)
FAQs
It conveys a practical rajadharma principle: the disciplined remembrance (saṃsmaraṇa) of an exemplary figure is said to stabilize the realm and prevent loss of state wealth (anaṣṭa-dravyatā).
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves statecraft and ethical governance: it links collective welfare (economic security in the rāṣṭra) with moral-psychological governance tools like remembrance of ideals and cautionary exempla (Kārttavīrya’s gati).
The verse frames remembrance as merit-bearing and protective, while warning rulers that unethical conduct can lead to a ruinous destiny—symbolized by ‘Kārttavīrya’s fate’—thus urging karmically aligned kingship.