Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 36
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
राजा कृत्वा पुरे स्थानं ब्राह्मणान्न्यस्य तत्र तु त्रैविद्यं वृत्तिमद्ब्रूयात् स्वधर्मः पाल्यतामिति
rājā kṛtvā pure sthānaṃ brāhmaṇānnyasya tatra tu traividyaṃ vṛttimadbrūyāt svadharmaḥ pālyatāmiti
அரசன் நகரில் உரிய இடத்தை அமைத்து அங்கே பிராமணர்களை குடியமர்த்தி, மூன்று வேதங்களில் தேர்ந்தும் நீதியான வாழ்வாதாரம் உடைய அறிஞர்களிடம்—“உங்கள் ஸ்வதர்மத்தை முறையாகக் காத்து நடத்துங்கள்” என்று கூற வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana’s teachings to Sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Urban governance: establish a protected Brahmana quarter/seat of learning, ensure learned advisers have stable livelihood, and formally charge them to uphold svadharma—creating a dharma-anchored civic order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Brahmana-nivesha in the city and royal injunction to uphold Svadharma","lookup_keywords":["brahmana-nivesha","traividya","svadharma","rajadharma","pura-sthana"],"quick_summary":"The king should settle Veda-learned Brahmanas in a designated city place and instruct them to maintain their own dharma. This institutionalizes counsel, education, and ritual stability as a pillar of governance."}
Concept: Svadharma as a stabilizing principle for social order, protected and encouraged by the ruler.
Application: Policy design that supports ethical specialization (roles/duties) and protects institutions of learning and ritual.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance and Social Order)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in a city court designates a quarter for Veda-learned Brahmanas; the learned sit with manuscripts and ritual implements while the king formally instructs them to uphold svadharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, ornate jewelry; a crowned king in a palace hall gestures toward a settled Brahmana quarter; Brahmanas with palm-leaf manuscripts, yajñopavita, calm faces; architectural arches and lamps.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central king on throne with halo-like prabhavali, Brahmana sages seated to the side holding palm-leaf texts; rich textiles, gem-studded ornaments, gold highlights on pillars and borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework and soft shading; instructional court scene: king pointing to a marked city plan/quarter, Brahmanas receiving the injunction; minimal background, emphasis on gesture and objects (manuscripts, water pot).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court assembly with patterned carpets; king addressing Brahmana scholars; cityscape vignette in background showing a designated Brahmana neighborhood; fine facial detailing and subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brāhmaṇānnyasya → brāhmaṇān nyasya; vṛttimadbrūyāt → vṛttimat brūyāt; pālyatāmiti → pālyatām iti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Vyavahara sections on sabha, purohita, and danda (contextual)
FAQs
It teaches a governance protocol: the king should establish a designated settlement for Brahmanas and formally instruct the Trayī-versed learned community to maintain svadharma—ensuring Vedic study, teaching, and dharmic conduct are institutionally supported.
Beyond ritual and theology, it codifies practical statecraft: civic planning (assigning a place in the city), patronage of Vedic scholarship (traividya), and administrative safeguarding of social-religious duties (svadharma), showing the text’s breadth across governance and dharma.
By supporting Brahmanas and protecting svadharma, the king upholds dharmic order; such protection is traditionally linked with accruing religious merit (puṇya), stabilizing society, and preventing adharma from arising in the kingdom.