Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 45
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
वार्ताः स्वका विजानीयाद्दरसीमान्तचारिणः निर्गच्छेत् प्रविशेच्चैव सर्व एवोपलक्षितः
vārtāḥ svakā vijānīyāddarasīmāntacāriṇaḥ nirgacchet praviśeccaiva sarva evopalakṣitaḥ
พึงทราบข่าวสารจากสายลับของตนที่สัญจรตามแนวชายแดนและเส้นทางชายแดน และผู้ใดจะออกหรือจะเข้า ทุกคนต้องถูกสังเกตและตรวจยืนยันตัวตนโดยครบถ้วน
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Rajadharma discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Border intelligence collection and internal security through controlled ingress/egress, identification, and surveillance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Frontier intelligence (dūta/cāra) and entry-exit identification","lookup_keywords":["varta","sva-cara","sima-anta","pravisha","upalakshita"],"quick_summary":"The ruler should learn reports from his own frontier-moving agents. All persons entering or leaving must be observed and properly identified to prevent espionage and disorder."}
Concept: State stability depends on reliable information (vārttā) and regulated movement of people.
Application: Establish agent networks on borders; implement gate registers, identity marks, and observation of all traffic.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Intelligence, and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agents returning from frontier roads deliver reports to officials; at the gates, entrants and exiters are inspected, recorded, and recognized by marks or tokens.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, two-part scene: border scouts with scrolls and travel gear; gatehouse with guards examining travelers, stylized palm-leaf registers, strong outlines and patterned costumes","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, royal officials receiving intelligence with gold detailing on throne and registers; gate scene with ornate arch, gilded accents on seals/tokens, rich colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear administrative tableau: agent briefing, scribe noting vārttā, gate identification process with tokens and watchful guards, fine lines and gentle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling gate with diverse travelers, guards checking documents, a spy discreetly observing, detailed architecture and costumes, court clerk compiling reports"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विजानीयाद्दरसीमान्तचारिणः→विजानीयात् दरसीमान्तचारिणः; प्रविशेच्चैव→प्रविशेत् च एव; एवोपलक्षितः→एव उपलक्षितः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 240.46; Agni Purana 240.44
FAQs
It imparts practical statecraft: gathering intelligence from trusted border-roaming agents and systematically identifying all persons entering or leaving a territory.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves administrative science—border management, surveillance, and intelligence procedures—showing its coverage of governance and public security.
By promoting order and protection of subjects, the ruler upholds dharma; safeguarding society and preventing harm is treated as a righteous duty that supports merit through just governance.