Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
Chapter 225 — राजधर्माः
The Duties of Kings): Daiva and Pौरुष (Effort), Upāyas of Statecraft, and Daṇḍa (Punitive Authority
मायोपेक्षेन्द्रजालञ्च उपायाः सप्त ताञ्छृणु द्विविधं कथितं साम तथ्यञ्चातथ्यमेव च
māyopekṣendrajālañca upāyāḥ sapta tāñchṛṇu dvividhaṃ kathitaṃ sāma tathyañcātathyameva ca
मायोपेक्षेन्द्रजालञ्च उपायाः सप्त ताञ्छृणु। द्विविधं कथितं साम तथ्यञ्चातथ्यमेव च॥
Lord Agni (instructional narration typical of Agni Purana’s didactic chapters)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Operational stratagems: employ a broader toolkit of expedients (including deception, strategic neglect, and illusion) and distinguish truthful vs untruthful conciliation in negotiations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Upaya-sapta and the twofold Sama (truthful/untruthful)","lookup_keywords":["माया","उपेक्षा","इन्द्रजाल","उपायाः सप्त","साम द्विविध"],"quick_summary":"Beyond the four classic means, additional expedients include deception, strategic indifference, and illusion. Conciliation itself may be framed truthfully or untruthfully depending on intent and context."}
Concept: Niti distinguishes modes of speech and appearance-management; even 'conciliation' can be a technique with truthful or deceptive framing.
Application: In diplomacy/negotiation, decide whether transparency serves the goal; use silence/indifference as a signal; avoid being misled by spectacle.
Khanda Section: Nīti-śāstra / Upāya (Statecraft: diplomatic stratagems and political expedients)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Veera
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A strategist briefing a king: one scene shows a masked agent (maya), another shows the king ignoring a petitioner (upeksha), and another shows a magician creating illusory troops (indrajala); a scroll notes sama as truthful/untruthful.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic indrajala scene with stylized illusionary elephants/warriors emerging from smoke, a minister pointing to palm-leaf diagrams, strong reds/ochres, iconic gestures for upeksha (turned-away posture).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central king and minister with gold-embossed scroll, side vignette of court magician conjuring illusory army with gold highlights, rich textiles, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, schematic instructional layout: labeled panels for maya, upeksha, indrajala, and twofold sama; clean lines, readable gestures, subdued palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined court scene with a juggler/magician performing, courtiers astonished, a discreet spy in mask, and the king deliberately looking away in upeksha; intricate architectural backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: माया+उपेक्षा+इन्द्रजालम्+च → मायोपेक्षेन्द्रजालञ्च (आ+उ→ओ; आ+इ→ए; म्+च→ञ्च); तान्+शृणु → ताञ्छृणु (न्+श→ञ्छ); तथ्यम्+च+अतथ्यम्+एव → तथ्यञ्चातथ्यमेव (म्+च→ञ्च; च+अ→चा).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma sections enumerating upayas and duta-karya; Rakshasa-kalpa passages where indrajala/maya appear as techniques
FAQs
It teaches nīti-vidyā (political science) by classifying upāyas (expedients), highlighting māyā (deception), upekṣā (strategic neglect), indrajāla (manufactured illusion), and defining sāma (conciliation) as either truth-based or untruth-based persuasion.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical governance doctrines; this verse exemplifies its coverage of diplomacy and realpolitik—cataloging tactical means and sub-types of negotiation used in administration and conflict management.
It frames speech and conduct as consequential instruments: truthful conciliation aligns with dharma-oriented governance, while untruthful methods are acknowledged as pragmatic tools—implying the ruler must weigh efficacy against ethical and karmic cost.