Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 54
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
प्रलिम्पन्निव चेतांसि दृष्ट्वासाधु पिबन्निव ग्रसन्निवामृतं साम प्रयुञ्जीत प्रियं वचः
pralimpanniva cetāṃsi dṛṣṭvāsādhu pibanniva grasannivāmṛtaṃ sāma prayuñjīta priyaṃ vacaḥ
प्रलिम्पन्निव चेतांसि दृष्ट्वा, असाधुं पिबन्निव च पश्यन्, अमृतं ग्रसन्निव साम प्रयुञ्जीत प्रियं वचः॥
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana’s instructional sections to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रलिम्पन्निव = प्रलिम्पन् इव; दृष्ट्वासाधु = दृष्ट्वा असाधु; ग्रसन्निवामृतम् = ग्रसन् इव अमृतम्।
FAQs
It teaches the technical upāya of Sāma—conciliation through gentle, pleasing speech—as a practical method of persuasion and conflict-management.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana includes applied disciplines like nīti (ethics) and statecraft; this verse preserves a core diplomatic tool (sāma) and its rhetorical application (priya-vacana).
Choosing pleasing, non-harmful speech helps restrain anger and hostility, supporting dharma through self-control and reducing negative karmic outcomes caused by harsh words.