Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 19
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
यदा दहति दुर्बुद्धिं तदा भवति पावकः यदा दानं द्विजातिभ्यो दद्यात् तस्माद्धनेश्वरः
yadā dahati durbuddhiṃ tadā bhavati pāvakaḥ yadā dānaṃ dvijātibhyo dadyāt tasmāddhaneśvaraḥ
यदा दुर्बुद्धिं दहति तदा पावकवत् पावकः भवति। यदा द्विजातिभ्यः दानं दद्यात् तस्मात् कर्मणः स धनैश्वर्यवान् भवति।
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s primary narration to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Ethical self-purification (burning дур्बुद्धि) and prescribed charity to qualified recipients to accrue merit and prosperity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Durbuddhi-dahana and Dvija-dāna Phala","lookup_keywords":["durbuddhi","pāvaka","dvijāti-dāna","dhanaiśvarya","puṇya-phala"],"quick_summary":"Inner purification is likened to fire’s cleansing power; giving dāna to dvijas is taught as a merit-producing act associated with wealth and status."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Antaḥ-śuddhi (burning of wicked cognition) and dāna as karma generating puṇya and worldly prosperity.
Application: Cultivate discernment and restraint; practice regular, respectful charity to worthy recipients.
Khanda Section: Dāna-Dharma (Charity, Merit, and Ethical Conduct)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder offers alms to learned dvijas while a symbolic inner fire burns away dark thoughts, shown as smoke dissolving into light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm ochres and greens, a serene gṛhastha before a small sacred fire, dvija brāhmaṇas receiving dāna, stylized flames representing purification, temple-wall composition, flat yet ornate detailing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure of a donor with halo-like aureole, dvijas seated with palm-leaf manuscripts, gold-leaf highlights on fire and vessels of charity, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional tableau of dāna: donor, recipients, measured gift, subtle inner-fire symbolism as a glowing aura, soft shading and muted palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly veranda scene of charity to scholars, fine textiles and architectural arches, a small brazier/fire in foreground, wisps of dark-to-light smoke indicating mental purification, meticulous detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: durbuddhiṃ (dur+buddhim); dvijātibhyo (dvijātibhyaḥ); tasmāddhaneśvaraḥ → tasmāt + dhana-īśvaraḥ (final -t before dh-).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 225 (Dāna-dharma context); Agni Purana 226 (Rājadharma continuation)
FAQs
It teaches a practical dharma-vidyā principle: inner purification by burning harmful tendencies (durbuddhi) and the meritorious practice of dāna to qualified dvija recipients.
Alongside ritual and specialized sciences, the Agni Purana also codifies social-ethical instructions (dāna, merit, prosperity), showing its wide scope from inner discipline to household religious economy.
Purifying the mind is likened to becoming ‘pāvaka’ (a purifier), while charitable giving generates puṇya that ripens as material prosperity and stability of wealth.