Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 7
Chapter 233 — Ṣāḍguṇya (The Six Measures of Royal Policy) and Foreign Daṇḍa
न चाहमस्य शक्नोमि तत्रोपेक्षां समाश्रयेत् अवज्ञोपहतस्तत्र राज्ञा कार्यो रिपुर्भवेत्
na cāhamasya śaknomi tatropekṣāṃ samāśrayet avajñopahatastatra rājñā kāryo ripurbhavet
அவ்விஷயத்தில் அவனைப் பற்றிய அலட்சியத்தை நான் ஏற்க இயலாது; அவமதிப்பால் காயமடைந்தவன் அங்கே பகைவனாக மாறுவான், ஆகவே அரசன் அவனைப் பகைவனெனக் கருதி நடத்த வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (instructing Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Court and administrative conduct: avoid humiliating stakeholders; treat the insulted party as a potential hostile actor and manage risk through appeasement, surveillance, or containment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Avajñā-janita-vairābhāva (Enmity born of contempt)","lookup_keywords":["avajñā","uparodha","vaira","rājadharma","śatru-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Contempt (avajñā) creates durable hostility; a king should not ignore a person wounded by insult, but classify and manage them as a potential enemy."}
Concept: Rājadharma requires psychological realism: social dishonor breeds enmity and must be governed, not ignored.
Application: Use respectful speech, reparative gestures, and calibrated deterrence to prevent grievance from turning into rebellion or sabotage.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Statecraft, and Royal Policy)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in court observes a slighted noble/official whose face shows wounded pride; ministers counsel that contempt turns him into an enemy, prompting the king to adopt guarded policy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style royal court scene, flat vibrant colors, ornate jewelry, the king on a throne with ministers, a humiliated courtier standing aside with tense posture, expressive eyes, palm-leaf manuscripts, traditional temple-mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a crowned king on a jeweled throne with gold-leaf work, ministers gesturing caution, a slighted noble with downcast yet angry gaze, rich textiles, architectural archway, devotional-like symmetry but political mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style instructional court tableau, fine linework, muted elegance, labels implied for 'avajñā' and 'vaira', king receiving counsel, emphasis on facial expressions and etiquette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature durbar scene, detailed textiles and carpets, the king conferring with wazirs, a disgruntled noble at the margin, subtle psychological tension, naturalistic shading and architectural depth"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāhamasya = ca + aham + asya; tatropekṣām = tatra + upekṣām; avajñopahataḥ = avajñā + upahataḥ; ripurbhavet = ripuḥ + bhavet.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma sections on amātya-nīti and śatru-vicāra; Agni Purana chapters on dūta (envoys) and sandhi-vigraha (peace/war policy)
FAQs
Rājanīti guidance: a person injured by contempt (avajñā) tends to turn hostile; therefore the king should not respond with mere neglect (upekṣā) and should manage him as a potential enemy.
It exemplifies the Purana’s inclusion of applied governance (rajadharma/rajanīti) alongside ritual and theology—offering actionable counsel on social psychology, courtly conduct, and political risk.
It implies that contempt and humiliation generate harmful reactions and conflict; a ruler’s dharmic duty is to prevent escalation through prudent, just handling rather than careless disregard.