Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 24
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
कृष्यादिवृत्तयो ज्ञेयाः कुसीदं वृद्धिजीविका उद्धरो ऽर्थप्रयोगः स्यात्कणिशं सस्यमञ्जरी
kṛṣyādivṛttayo jñeyāḥ kusīdaṃ vṛddhijīvikā uddharo 'rthaprayogaḥ syātkaṇiśaṃ sasyamañjarī
కృషి మొదలైన వృత్తులు (ఉపాధులు) తెలుసుకోవలెను. ‘కుసీదం’ అనగా వడ్డీపై జీవిక (సూదు). ‘ఉద్ధార’ అనగా ధనప్రయోగం—ముందస్తు చెల్లింపు/వినియోగం. ‘కణిశం’ అనగా ధాన్యశస్యాల మంజరి/కంకి.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Economic literacy for governance: classify livelihoods (esp. agriculture), define usury/interest-income, advances/disbursements, and agrarian produce terminology relevant to taxation and accounting.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Economic terms: kṛṣi-vṛtti, kusīda (usury), uddhāra (advance), kaṇiśa (ear of grain)","lookup_keywords":["kṛṣi","kusīda","uddhāra","kaṇiśa","vṛtti"],"quick_summary":"Defines key fiscal and agrarian terms used in revenue administration: occupations, interest-based lending, monetary advance/disbursement, and crop-ear terminology for assessment."}
Concept: Right livelihood and regulated wealth practices (including lending) are part of rāja-dharma and social stability.
Application: Helps rulers/officials draft clear rules for loans, advances, and crop-based revenue measures.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Arthashastra (Livelihoods, taxation, and economic terminology)
Primary Rasa: Samanya
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal accountant records agrarian occupations and loan ledgers; a moneylender’s interest tally (kusīda) and an official disbursing an advance (uddhāra); close-up of grain ears (kaṇiśa).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; palace revenue office with stylized palm-leaf accounts, farmers presenting grain, official handing coins as uddhāra, warm mural colors and clear iconography.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; seated king/minister with gold-embossed ledger, attendants with grain sheaves, coin bags highlighted in gold, ornate borders and rich textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; instructional administrative scene with labeled objects (kusīda ledger, uddhāra coins, kaṇiśa grain ear), delicate shading and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; diwan’s office with clerks, scales, coin-counting, farmers with produce, detailed architecture and realistic accounting tools."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kṛṣyādivṛttayo = कृषि + आदि + वृत्तयः; uddharo 'rthaprayogaḥ = उद्धरः + अर्थप्रयोगः; syātkaṇiśaṃ = स्यात् + कणिशम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana rājadharma/artha sections (taxation, duties of king); Agni Purana kośa entries on vṛtti and varṇa
FAQs
It defines technical economic terms: kinds of livelihoods (kṛṣyādi-vṛtti), usury (kusīda) as earning by interest (vṛddhi-jīvikā), “uddhāra” as monetary disbursement/advance (artha-prayoga), and “kaṇīśa” as the grain ear/panicle.
By cataloging precise vocabulary for occupations, lending, and agrarian produce, it functions like an Arthashastra-style glossary within a Purana—showing the text’s scope beyond theology into governance, finance, and agriculture.
Clear definitions support dharmic governance and fair economic conduct: understanding livelihoods and lending practices helps regulate earning and exchange in line with rajadharma, reducing harm and promoting social order.