Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 19
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
तथान्ये द्रव्यनिचया दन्ति सव्यसना प्रजा प्रजानामापदिस्थानां रक्षणं कोषदण्डयोः
tathānye dravyanicayā danti savyasanā prajā prajānāmāpadisthānāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ koṣadaṇḍayoḥ
அதேபோல் பிற செல்வச் சேமிப்புகளும் பாதுகாக்கப்பட வேண்டும்; குடிமக்கள் தீய பழக்கங்களுக்கு உட்பட்டவர்களாயினும் கட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். பேரிடரில் மக்களின் பாதுகாப்பு கருவூலமும் தண்ட அதிகாரமும் சார்ந்தது।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s instructional narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Maintain diversified reserves (stores/stockpiles), regulate subjects’ misconduct through law, and rely on treasury plus punitive authority for disaster protection and public safety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kośa–Daṇḍa Basis of Public Protection in Calamity","lookup_keywords":["dravyanicaya","kośa","daṇḍa","āpadi-rakṣaṇa","praja-niyama"],"quick_summary":"Public safety during crises depends on two pillars: adequate reserves/treasury and effective enforcement; wealth stores must be maintained and subjects restrained when necessary."}
Concept: Ruler’s dharma is lokasaṃgraha: safeguarding people in calamity through prudent accumulation and just coercive power.
Application: Create granaries/warehouses, emergency funds, clear enforcement protocols, and relief distribution backed by lawful authority.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Treasury, Punishment, Public Protection)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Royal warehouses and granaries being filled; officials recording inventories; during calamity, disciplined guards maintain order while relief is distributed—showing kośa and daṇḍa as twin supports.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panoramic city with granary rows, scribes with palm-leaf tallies, king overseeing relief, guards calming a crowd during scarcity; vibrant flat colors, stylized faces, temple-town setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king blessing relief distribution, gold-foil highlighting treasury chests and grain heaps, symmetrical composition with guards holding staffs, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical depiction of storehouses, inventory scrolls, and a crisis-relief queue; labeled elements 'kośa' and 'daṇḍa'; delicate shading and precise architecture.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed warehouse courtyard with sacks and jars, accountants, soldiers managing crowd, relief being measured and handed out; fine perspective and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तथान्ये = तथा + अन्ये. दन्ति (पाठभेद) → ददन्ति (दा-धातोः). प्रजानामापदिस्थानां = प्रजानाम् + आपदि-स्थानाम्. कोषदण्डयोः = कोष + दण्ड (द्वन्द्व) + योः (द्विवचन-षष्ठी/सप्तमी).
Related Themes: Agni Purana chapters on kośa, durga (forts), bala (forces), daṇḍa-vidhāna, āpaddharma
FAQs
It teaches rājanīti (statecraft): a ruler must maintain reserves of resources (koṣa) and enforce discipline through lawful punishment (daṇḍa) to protect society—especially during crises.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies administrative science—linking fiscal policy (treasury), criminal governance (punishment), and disaster protection—showing its wide coverage of public life and policy.
Protecting subjects in distress is presented as a kingly dharma: maintaining order and safeguarding life through just resources and just punishment supports social harmony and accrues merit while preventing adharma from spreading.