Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 19
Chapter 237 — Rāma’s Teaching on Nīti (रामोक्तनीतिः)
स्त्रीभृत्यान् प्रेमदानाभ्यां दाक्षिण्येतरं जनं अनिन्दा परकृत्येषु स्वधर्मपरिपालनं
strībhṛtyān premadānābhyāṃ dākṣiṇyetaraṃ janaṃ anindā parakṛtyeṣu svadharmaparipālanaṃ
พึงอุปถัมภ์ภรรยาและผู้อยู่ในอุปการะด้วยความรักและการให้ทาน; พึงปฏิบัติต่อผู้อื่นด้วยความสุภาพอ่อนโยน; ไม่พึงติเตียนกิจของผู้อื่น; และพึงรักษาสวธรรม (หน้าที่ของตน) ให้ครบถ้วน
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Household governance: provide for dependents with affection and gifts, practice civility, avoid meddling/criticism of others’ affairs, and adhere to one’s svadharma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Gṛhastha-Nīti: Support, Courtesy, Non-censure, Svadharma","lookup_keywords":["stri-bhritya","prema-dana","dakshinya","aninda","svadharma"],"quick_summary":"Sustain wife and dependents through affection and giving, treat others with courtesy, avoid censuring others’ matters, and steadfastly maintain one’s own duty."}
Concept: Svadharma is protected by compassionate provision, social courtesy, and restraint from fault-finding—creating ethical order in the household and society.
Application: Budget for dependents, practice regular gifting/recognition, adopt a ‘no gossip/no interference’ rule, and prioritize duties aligned with one’s role and stage of life.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Sadachara (Ethics of conduct and household governance)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder giving gifts and affectionate support to wife and servants, greeting neighbors with courtesy, turning away from gossipers, and performing his own duties diligently.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, domestic courtyard: householder offering cloth/coins with affectionate gesture to family and attendants, courteous greeting to visitors, a small group gossiping turned away, vibrant traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central gṛhastha figure with gold accents distributing gifts, wife and attendants respectfully positioned, symbolic scroll reading ‘svadharma’, ornate gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional household ethics tableau: gifting, courteous salutation, refusal to criticize others, and a small shrine/work desk indicating svadharma, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, household scene with detailed interiors: patron giving gifts to dependents, polite reception of guests, a sidelined gossiping group, meticulous textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kharaharapriya","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dākṣiṇya+itaram→dākṣiṇyetaram; svadharma+paripālanam→svadharmaparipālanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 237 (sadācāra and gṛhastha conduct); Agni Purana dharma discussions on dāna and gṛhastha-āśrama (related)
FAQs
It imparts sadācāra (ethical discipline): caring for dependents through affection and giving, practicing courtesy in social dealings, avoiding blame of others’ affairs, and adhering to one’s svadharma.
Beyond rituals and theology, it codifies practical social ethics and household governance—core components of rajadharma/smṛti-style guidance—showing the text’s wide scope from worship to daily conduct.
Supporting dependents, practicing kindness, avoiding fault-finding, and following svadharma reduce negative karma from harm and speech, cultivate merit (puṇya), and stabilize one’s dharmic life.