Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 34
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
योधेभ्यस्तु ततो दद्यात् किञ्चिद्दातुं न युज्यते द्रव्यलक्षं राजघाते तदर्धं तत्सुतार्दने
yodhebhyastu tato dadyāt kiñciddātuṃ na yujyate dravyalakṣaṃ rājaghāte tadardhaṃ tatsutārdane
ต่อจากนั้นพึงมอบสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่งแก่ทหาร; ไม่สมควรที่จะไม่ให้เลย. ในกรณีปลงพระชนม์พระราชา โทษปรับทรัพย์หนึ่งแสน; หากปลงพระชนม์พระราชโอรส ให้ปรับครึ่งหนึ่ง.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guides royal administration on (a) obligatory distribution/compensation to troops and (b) graded monetary penalties for high treason and regicide-related crimes.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Fines for regicide and graded royal-offence penalties; troop remuneration principle","lookup_keywords":["rajaghata","danda-niti","dandya-dravya","yodha-dana","rajaputra-vadha"],"quick_summary":"A king should not neglect giving due shares to soldiers. For killing the king the fine is one lakh; for killing the king’s son it is half—showing graded punishment by status and threat to sovereignty."}
Concept: Raja-dharma requires both protection and fairness: soldiers must be maintained, and crimes against the sovereign receive the highest deterrent penalties.
Application: Use graded fines and assured troop compensation to prevent mutiny, maintain loyalty, and uphold state stability.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Dandaniti (Governance, law, and royal punishments)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where the king orders payment to soldiers while a scribe records graded fines for crimes against the king and prince; symbols of justice (scales, danda) present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, king on throne with attendants, soldiers receiving coins, court scribe writing palm-leaf ledger, justice staff (daṇḍa), symmetrical composition, traditional ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central enthroned king with gold-leaf halo-like arch, soldiers at side receiving gold coins, minister holding palm-leaf, ornate pillars, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry and textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, court scene with labeled amounts ‘lakṣa’ and ‘ardha’, soldiers in orderly queue, minister explaining law, muted palette with fine shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar with patterned carpets, accountants tallying fines, soldiers receiving stipend, precise architectural backdrop, naturalistic faces, fine borders and calligraphy cartouche."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: योधेभ्यस्तु = योधेभ्यः + तु; किञ्चिद्दातुम् = किञ्चित् + दातुम्; तत्सुतार्दने = तत् + सुत + अर्दने (तत्सुत-अर्दने).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 241 (Rajadharma/Dandaniti section: punishments, fines, state offences)
FAQs
It imparts dandanīti/rajadharma procedure: soldiers must be compensated, and fixed monetary fines (dravyadaṇḍa) are prescribed for high crimes like killing the king or the king’s son.
Beyond ritual and theology, it preserves practical statecraft—administrative norms (paying troops) and penal codes (graded fines for regicide and related offenses), showing the Purana’s coverage of governance and jurisprudence.
By defining proportional punishment and rightful payment, it frames social order (dharma) as a moral duty; violating it—especially violence against the sovereign—incurs severe demerit and demands the strongest corrective penalty.