Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Chapter 237 — Rāma’s Teaching on Nīti (रामोक्तनीतिः)
दीनोपगतरक्षणमिति ख , घ , छ , ज , ञ , ट च स्वमुखमन्विच्छुरिति ख , छ च देवतावत् गुरुजनमात्मवच्च सुहृज्जनं प्रणिपातेन हि गुरुं सतो ऽमृषानुचेष्टितैः
dīnopagatarakṣaṇamiti kha , gha , cha , ja , ña , ṭa ca svamukhamanvicchuriti kha , cha ca devatāvat gurujanamātmavacca suhṛjjanaṃ praṇipātena hi guruṃ sato 'mṛṣānuceṣṭitaiḥ
“Pagprotekta sa mga dukha at sa mga dumulog upang magkanlong” (pagbasa sa kha, gha, cha, ja, ña, ṭa); at “paghahanap ng sariling kapakinabangan” (pagbasa sa kha at cha). Dapat igalang ang matatanda at mga guro na parang mga diyos, at ituring ang mga kaibigang mabuting-loob na gaya ng sarili; tunay nga, dapat parangalan ang guru sa pagpapatirapa, sa asal ng mga matuwid, at sa mga gawaing walang panlilinlang.
Lord Agni (teaching to Vashistha, in the typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethics of refuge-protection, guru-veneration, and non-deceitful conduct; useful for household governance, leadership, and community trust-building.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇa, Guru-sevā, and Amṛṣānuceṣṭā (Non-deceitful Conduct)","lookup_keywords":["dinopagata-rakshana","sharanagata","guru-pranipata","suhrid","amrisha"],"quick_summary":"Protect the helpless/refuge-seeker, revere elders and teachers as divine, treat friends as oneself, and honor the guru through prostration and non-deceptive virtuous conduct."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (supporting maxim) with variant readings noted
Concept: Dharma is expressed as protection of the vulnerable and as guru-bhakti grounded in truthfulness and absence of deceit.
Application: In leadership: institute asylum/refuge norms; in education: daily pranipāta and service; in friendships: reciprocity and transparency.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Ethics of conduct and social duty)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ruler/householder sheltering a poor refugee at the doorway, while nearby a student prostrates to a seated guru; friends are embraced as equals, all under an atmosphere of honesty.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-register composition: upper—guru seated on a mat, disciple doing full pranipata; lower—refuge-seeker protected by a noble figure, warm compassionate palette, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central guru with gold aureole, disciple prostrating, side vignette of sheltering the helpless, gold detailing on garments and throne-like seat","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene with clear gestures: pranipata to guru, offering water/food to refugee, friends shown with mutual respect, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene: guru teaching under a canopy, student bowing; adjacent scene of a petitioner/refugee being granted protection by a dignitary, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svamukham+anvicchuḥ→svamukhamanvicchuḥ; gurujanam+ātmavat+ca→gurujanamātmavacca; sato+amṛṣā…→sato 'mṛṣā… (avagraha). Letter-names (kha, gha, etc.) are preserved as given.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 237 (nīti on guru, suhrid, satya); Agni Purana dharma sections on dāna and dayā (related themes)
FAQs
It teaches sadācāra within rājadharma: protect the helpless, revere gurus/elders like deities, treat well-wishers as oneself, and honor the guru through praṇipāta and non-deceptive, virtuous conduct.
Alongside ritual and technical sciences, the Agni Purana also codifies practical social ethics—guru-sevā, humility, truthful behavior, and protection of dependents—showing its coverage of governance and moral law (nīti/rājadharma).
Reverence to the guru and truthful, non-deceptive conduct are presented as purifying disciplines that generate merit (puṇya) and stabilize dharma, while protecting the helpless is a direct expression of righteous duty.