Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 16
Rāja-dharma (राजधर्माः) — Protection of the Heir, Discipline, Counsel, and the Seven Limbs of the State
अप्रिये चैव वक्तव्ये दीर्घसूत्रः प्रशस्यते सुप्तमन्त्रो भवेद्राजा नापदो गुप्तमन्त्रतः
apriye caiva vaktavye dīrghasūtraḥ praśasyate suptamantro bhavedrājā nāpado guptamantrataḥ
ناپسندیدہ بات بھی کہنی ہو تو تدبر سے چلنے والا قابلِ ستائش ہے۔ بادشاہ کو اپنی مشاورت پوشیدہ رکھنی چاہیے؛ محفوظ و مخفی مشورے سے آفات پیدا نہیں ہوتیں۔
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Counsel management: deliberate even when delivering unpleasant advice; maintain secrecy of state counsel to prevent crises.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gupta-mantra and deliberative speech in counsel","lookup_keywords":["apriya-vaktavya","dīrgha-sūtra (deliberation)","supta/gupta-mantra","rāja-nīti","āpada"],"quick_summary":"Unpleasant truths should be spoken with careful deliberation. A king must keep counsel secret; guarded counsel prevents calamities."}
Concept: Hita-vākya with viveka (discernment) and gupti (guarding) as pillars of righteous rule.
Application: Use confidential councils, need-to-know dissemination, secure messengers; train advisors to present harsh truths calmly and with evidence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Statecraft, and Counsel)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A private council chamber: minister carefully presenting difficult news; the king listens; guards ensure privacy; sealed documents indicate secret counsel.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: inner palace chamber with lamp-lit intimacy, king and minister seated close, minister speaking with restrained gesture, guards at doorway, stylized architecture and warm tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: confidential counsel scene with gold-embossed pillars, king and chief minister leaning toward a sealed scroll, attendants kept at distance, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of ‘secret council’—small group, closed doors, sealed letters; emphasis on calm facial expressions while conveying unpleasant truth","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: discreet meeting in a side pavilion, minister presenting a folded note, guards outside, delicate shading and architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव → च + एव; भवेद्राजा → भवेत् + राजा; नापदो → न + आपदः; सुप्तमन्त्रो → सुप्त-मन्त्रः; गुप्तमन्त्रतः → गुप्त-मन्त्रतः
Related Themes: Agni Purana rājadharma on mantra (counsel) and secrecy; Agni Purana guidance on speech ethics (vāg-dharma) in governance
FAQs
It imparts Rajaniti (statecraft): speak unpleasant truths with deliberation and protect the king’s policy-counsel (mantra) through secrecy to prevent political danger.
Alongside ritual and cosmology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical governance doctrine—niti principles on counsel, communication, and risk-management in kingship.
Disciplined speech and restraint (especially guarding confidential counsel) are treated as dharmic self-control, reducing harm, conflict, and the ripple-effects of reckless words.