Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Duties outside the Varṇa Order (वर्णेतरधर्माः) — Agni Purana, Chapter 151
भक्तिश् च नृपतौ नित्यं तथा सच्छास्त्रनेत्रता आनृशंष्यन्तितिक्षा च तथा चास्तिक्यमेव च
bhaktiś ca nṛpatau nityaṃ tathā sacchāstranetratā ānṛśaṃṣyantitikṣā ca tathā cāstikyameva ca
రాజుపట్ల నిత్య భక్తి; సద్శాస్త్రాల నేతృత్వంలో నడుచుట; కరుణ; సహనశక్తి; మరియు వేదప్రామాణ్యంపై విశ్వాసం (ఆస్తిక్యం)—ఇవీ (ధర్మాలు)।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guides civic ethics: loyalty to legitimate rulership, governance aligned with śāstra, compassion and forbearance in public life, and āstikya as a stabilizing worldview for law and policy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rāja-bhakti and Śāstra-netṛtva: Virtues for Subjects and Governance","lookup_keywords":["rāja-bhakti","śāstra-netṛtva","ānṛśaṃsya","titikṣā","āstikya"],"quick_summary":"Promotes stable polity through loyalty to the king, scriptural guidance in decision-making, compassion, patience, and affirmation of Vedic authority—virtues applicable to rulers, ministers, and citizens."}
Concept: Political order is dharma-supported: śāstra-guided vision (netṛtva) tempers power with compassion and patience; āstikya grounds legitimacy and moral restraint.
Application: In administration: consult śāstra/ethical codes before policy; practice proportional mercy; cultivate patience under provocation; maintain public trust through principled adherence to dharma.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Kingship, ethics of rulership, and ministerial virtues)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king on the throne receiving counsel from śāstra-knowing ministers; subjects showing loyalty; the king demonstrating compassion and forbearance in judgment, with a visible manuscript of śāstra nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal court with king seated, ministers holding palm-leaf śāstra, petitioner before the throne; king’s hand raised in compassionate gesture; strong outlines, warm pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal king with gold-embossed throne and halo-like arch, ministers presenting a scripture; scene of merciful judgment; heavy gold work and rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, governance instruction scene: king, minister pointing to śāstra text, orderly court; fine lines, soft shading, minimal gold accents.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, durbar scene with detailed carpets and pillars, king listening to counsel, scribe with manuscript; a petitioner forgiven; intricate border and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhaktiś ca → bhaktiḥ ca; sacchāstranetratā → sat-śāstra-netratā; ānṛśaṃṣyantitikṣā → ānṛśaṃsyam titikṣā; tathā cāstikyam eva → tathā āstikyam eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma materials (within Dharma-kāṇḍa)
FAQs
It imparts Rajadharma-vidya: practical governance ethics—loyalty to the ruler, decision-making guided by authoritative śāstra, and personal virtues (compassion, forbearance, āstikya) expected in state functionaries.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana systematizes civic life and polity; this verse is a compact checklist of administrative virtues, showing the text’s coverage of statecraft alongside other disciplines.
By grounding governance in śāstra, compassion, and āstikya, the verse frames public duty as dharma; such conduct is presented as merit-bearing (puṇya) and as reducing harm (hiṃsā) and injustice in society.