Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
मदः प्रमादः कामश् च सुप्तप्रलपितानि च भिन्दन्ति मन्त्रं प्रच्छन्नाः कामिन्यो रमतान्तथा
madaḥ pramādaḥ kāmaś ca suptapralapitāni ca bhindanti mantraṃ pracchannāḥ kāminyo ramatāntathā
ความมึนเมา ความประมาท และกามราคะ รวมทั้งถ้อยคำที่เผลอพูดในยามหลับ—ย่อมทำให้คำปรึกษาลับแตก; เช่นเดียวกับหญิงผู้แอบแฝงและเจ้าเล่ห์ ที่ทำให้ผู้หมกมุ่นในความสำราญเผยความลับ.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Maintain confidentiality protocols: avoid intoxication, negligence, lust-driven indiscretion, and uncontrolled speech (including sleep-talk); restrict access to sensitive counsel and manage honey-trap risks.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Protection of Secret Counsel (Mantra-raksha)","lookup_keywords":["mantra-bheda (breach)","mada (intoxication)","pramada (heedlessness)","kama (lust)","supta-pralapita (sleep-talk)"],"quick_summary":"Secret counsel is destroyed by intoxication, carelessness, lust, and uncontrolled speech—even in sleep—along with entanglement in covert seduction. Discipline and access-control preserve state secrets."}
Concept: Indriya-nigraha (sense-control) and apramada (non-negligence) as ethical-political necessities; private vice becomes public harm through betrayal of trust.
Application: Adopt personal vows and institutional rules: sobriety during duty, restricted intimacy near sensitive operations, and disciplined speech.
Khanda Section: Niti-shastra / Rajadharma (Conduct, counsel, and political-ethical instruction)
Primary Rasa: Bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: Veera
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A secret council is shown being 'cracked' by vices: a drunken official spilling words, a careless minister leaving a scroll open, a lustful courtier distracted by a concealed seductress, and a sleeper murmuring while a spy listens.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic cautionary tableau—four vices personified around a sealed scroll; a shadowy spy figure at the edge; strong outlines, deep reds/browns, moralizing temple-mural narrative style.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central golden sealed manuscript (mantra) with four surrounding scenes in gold frames—intoxication, heedlessness, lust, sleep-talk; ornate gold work, jewel tones, symbolic clarity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional sequence with clear panels; each panel shows one breach vector and a corrective (closed box, guard, sober posture); fine linework, soft colors, didactic layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate palace interiors with detailed textiles; a spy behind a jali screen; a sleeping courtier murmuring; a wine cup and open scroll as evidence; nuanced expressions and lighting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कामश् च → कामः + च; सुप्तप्रलपितानि → सुप्त + प्रलपितानि (द्वन्द्व); रमतान्तथा → रमता + अन्यथा (IAST shows ramatāntathā; taken as ramatā + anyathā).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma material on secrecy, spies, and ministerial conduct (contextual)
FAQs
It imparts niti (statecraft) guidance: protect confidential counsel (mantra) by avoiding intoxication, negligence, lust, and careless speech (including sleep-talk), and by not trusting covert temptations that lead to disclosure.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance and ethical counsel—here, a concise doctrine of information security and disciplined conduct in political decision-making.
It stresses mastery over the senses and speech; guarding secrets through restraint reduces harm caused by negligence and desire, aligning conduct with dharma and preventing destructive consequences for oneself and others.