Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Prātyahika-Rāja-Karma
Daily Duties of a King
निःसत्त्वादौ नृपः स्नातः पश्येद्विष्णुं सुपूजितं हुतञ्च पावकं पश्येद्विप्रान् पश्येत्सुपूजितान्
niḥsattvādau nṛpaḥ snātaḥ paśyedviṣṇuṃ supūjitaṃ hutañca pāvakaṃ paśyedviprān paśyetsupūjitān
Sa pasimula ng ritong niḥsattva, ang hari—pagkatapos maligo—ay dapat tumingin at sumamba kay Viṣṇu na pinarangalan nang wasto; dapat din niyang masdan ang Apoy na Pāvaka na pinaghandugan ng mga alay, at masdan ang mga brāhmaṇa na pinarangalan nang nararapat.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Daily/occasional royal ritual protocol: bathing, darśana of worshipped Viṣṇu, viewing the consecrated fire after oblations, and honoring brāhmaṇas to stabilize auspiciousness and legitimacy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rāja-pūjā-krama: Snāna, Viṣṇu-darśana, Homa-darśana, Vipra-satkāra","lookup_keywords":["niḥsattva","snāna","Viṣṇu","pāvaka","vipra"],"quick_summary":"At the beginning of the rite, the king bathes, beholds Viṣṇu duly worshipped, witnesses the oblation-fed fire, and pays respect to honored brāhmaṇas—establishing purity and auspicious order."}
Concept: Ritual purity and darśana as instruments of rāja-tejas and social harmony: honoring deity, fire, and brāhmaṇas aligns king with dharma.
Application: Maintain a fixed morning/rite-opening sequence: snāna → deity worship/darśana → homa/fire witness → honor learned brāhmaṇas.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Raja-abhisheka / Darshana-krama and daily royal ritual observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A purified king after bath stands in a ritual hall: Viṣṇu shrine with offerings, a blazing homa fire with ladle and oblations, and honored brāhmaṇas seated receiving respect.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple interior with Viṣṇu icon on pedestal, lamps and flower garlands; homa-kuṇḍa with bright stylized flames; brāhmaṇas in white seated; king with wet hair after snāna, serene shanta-bhakti mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu as central gilded icon with gold leaf halo; foreground homa fire with gold accents; king offering respects to brāhmaṇas; ornate arch and rich textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean ritual diagram feel: sequential focus on snāna vessel, Viṣṇu altar, homa-kuṇḍa, brāhmaṇa satkāra; delicate shading and fine ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace chapel scene: detailed fire altar, priests, and king; intricate carpets and vessels; soft naturalistic flames; respectful courtly atmosphere."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पश्येद्विष्णुम् → पश्येत् विष्णुम्; हुतञ्च → हुतम् च; पश्येद्विप्रान् → पश्येत् विप्रान्; पश्येत्सुपूजितान् → पश्येत् सुपूजितान् (त् + स → त्स्)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi and homa procedures; Agni Purana: Rajābhiṣeka/daily observances sections
FAQs
It prescribes an auspicious post-bath sequence for a king: darśana of duly worshipped Viṣṇu, then the consecrated sacrificial fire that has received oblations (huta-pāvaka), and then honored brāhmaṇas—establishing a practical ritual order for purity and legitimacy.
Beyond theology, it encodes procedural royal protocol (rāja-dharma + pūjā-vidhi): bodily purification (snāna), divine verification (Viṣṇu-darśana), ritual continuity (Agni with offerings), and social-religious order (honoring brāhmaṇas). This blend of governance and liturgy typifies the Agni Purāṇa’s multi-disciplinary scope.
Bathing and then beholding worshipped Viṣṇu, the sanctified oblation-bearing fire, and honored brāhmaṇas is taught as an auspicious purification-and-merit sequence, aligning the king’s actions with dharma, sacrificial sanctity, and respect for sacred authority.