Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 19
Adhyaya 222 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharmāḥ): Duties of Kings (Administrative Order, Protection, and Revenue Ethics
यावत्स्यात्स समावृत्तो यावद्वातीतशैशवः बालपुत्रासु चैवं स्याद्रक्षणं निष्कलासु च
yāvatsyātsa samāvṛtto yāvadvātītaśaiśavaḥ bālaputrāsu caivaṃ syādrakṣaṇaṃ niṣkalāsu ca
Dapat ipagpatuloy ang pag-iingat hanggang sa matapos niya ang panahon ng pag-aaral at makalampas sa pagkabata; gayundin, dapat bigyan ng pag-aaruga ang mga batang anak na babae, at gayundin ang mga babaeng walang tagapag-alagang (lalaki).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Defines duration and scope of guardianship/protection duties for youths (until completion of studentship and beyond childhood) and for young daughters and unguarded women; relevant to family law and social protection norms.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rakṣaṇa-kāla: protection until samāvartana and beyond childhood; protection of daughters and niṣkalā women","lookup_keywords":["rakṣaṇa","samāvṛtta","śaiśava","bāla-putrā","niṣkalā"],"quick_summary":"Guardianship continues until a male completes studentship and passes childhood; similarly, protection is enjoined for young daughters and for women lacking guardians."}
Concept: Rakṣaṇa (protection) of dependents is a household and societal dharma, tied to āśrama milestones (samāvartana) and vulnerability (minors, unguarded women).
Application: In household governance and community administration, ensure supervision, safe residence, and legal representation for minors and unprotected women until they attain independent competence or lawful guardianship.
Khanda Section: Grihya-Dharma / Samskara-Vidhi (Household rites and life-stage duties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A household scene showing a young student returning after samāvartana, elders providing protection; alongside, a father/guardian ensuring safety of young daughters and a woman without a guardian being sheltered and represented.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: domestic courtyard with lamp and tulasi, a young brahmacārin with staff transitioning to householder attire, elders blessing; daughters near mother; an unguarded woman respectfully sheltered, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: family protection tableau with gold-leaf accents on jewelry and ritual vessels; samāvartana blessing scene in a pillared hall; guardian standing protectively near daughters; rich reds and gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional family-law scene—three vignettes labeled samāvartana, bāla-putrī-rakṣaṇa, niṣkalā-rakṣaṇa; clean composition, fine lines, soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined domestic interior with elders, youth, and women; attendants and architectural screens suggesting protection and propriety; detailed textiles and subtle expressions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Anandabhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yāvatsyātsa → yāvat + syāt + saḥ; yāvadvātītaśaiśavaḥ → yāvat + vātīta-śaiśavaḥ; caivaṃ → ca + evam; syādrakṣaṇaṃ → syāt + rakṣaṇam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana gṛhya-dharma and saṃskāra sections (brahmacarya, samāvartana); Agni Purana rājadharma on protection of the vulnerable
FAQs
It teaches a dharma-rule of guardianship: continued protection and supervision of dependents—especially students until completion of brahmacarya, children until maturity, and vulnerable women lacking support.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical social-legal norms (gṛhya-dharma/ācāra), showing its coverage of ethics, family governance, and community obligations.
Fulfilling one’s duty to protect dependents is treated as righteous conduct (dharma), supporting social order and generating merit through responsible guardianship and non-neglect.