Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 38
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
वक्ष्ये ऽनुजीविनां वृत्ते सेवी सेवेत भूपतिं दक्षता भद्रता दार्ढ्यं क्षान्तिः क्लेशसहिष्णुता
vakṣye 'nujīvināṃ vṛtte sevī seveta bhūpatiṃ dakṣatā bhadratā dārḍhyaṃ kṣāntiḥ kleśasahiṣṇutā
సేవచేసి జీవించే వారి ధర్మాచారాన్ని నేను చెప్పుచున్నాను: సేవకుడు రాజును సేవించాలి; అతనిలో దక్షత, సద్గుణం, దృఢత్వం, క్షమ, కష్టసహనశక్తి ఉండాలి.
Lord Agni (narrating the niti/rajadharma teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Code of conduct for retainers/civil servants: competence, integrity, firmness, patience, and hardship-tolerance for effective governance and stable administration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"अनुजीविन-वृत्ति (Conduct and qualities of a retainer)","lookup_keywords":["अनुजीविन्","सेवक","दक्षता","क्षान्ति","क्लेशसहिष्णुता"],"quick_summary":"A servant of the king should cultivate competence, good character, firmness, patience, and endurance—qualities that sustain reliable service under pressure."}
Concept: सेवाधर्म—राजसेवा as disciplined livelihood requiring inner virtues (क्षान्ति, दार्ढ्य) and outer skill (दक्षता).
Application: Professional ethics for public service: build skill, reliability, emotional regulation, and resilience to hardship; avoid fragility under workload and crisis.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Conduct of servants and royal service)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined retainer stands in the royal court, attentive and composed, holding a palm-leaf dossier; visual emblems show competence, good conduct, firmness, patience, and endurance of hardship.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal court with stylized pillars; servant with folded hands, steady gaze; five symbolic motifs around him (scroll for दक्षता, lotus for भद्रता, mountain for दार्ढ्य, calm moon for क्षान्ति, rugged path for क्लेशसहिष्णुता).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king on throne with gold halo-like arch; servant in front with gold-embossed sash; ornate icons representing the five virtues; rich jewel tones and heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition; labeled virtues in neat cartouches; servant shown performing tasks—writing, standing guard, waiting patiently, enduring heat/rain; soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar scene; a capable courtier presents documents; background shows him enduring travel and hardship; fine facial expressions emphasizing patience and firmness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vakṣye 'nujīvinām = vakṣye + anujīvinām (avagraha: euphonic elision of initial a-). mantrañca not in this verse.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 238 (anujivin/servant conduct)
FAQs
It teaches niti for royal service: a servant/retainer should serve the king with efficiency (dakṣatā), good conduct (bhadratā), firmness (dārḍhya), patience (kṣānti), and hardship-endurance (kleśa-sahiṣṇutā).
Beyond ritual and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves statecraft and ethical governance norms (rajadharma/niti), detailing character-qualities required for functioning courts and administrations.
Right livelihood through disciplined service—performed with patience and integrity—supports dharma, reduces harm born of anger or instability, and is presented as a meritorious, order-sustaining mode of action.