Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 38
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
विवृद्धाः शत्रवश् चैव विनाशाय भवन्ति ते दूष्यस्य दूषणार्थञ्च परित्यागो महीयसः
vivṛddhāḥ śatravaś caiva vināśāya bhavanti te dūṣyasya dūṣaṇārthañca parityāgo mahīyasaḥ
جب دشمن بڑھ کر طاقتور ہو جائیں تو وہ یقیناً ہلاکت کا سبب بنتے ہیں؛ اور جو چیز قابلِ مذمت ہو اس کی مذمت کے لیے کسی بزرگ کا اسے ترک کرنا بھی ایک عظیم اصول ہے۔
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Strategic counsel: prevent enemy aggrandizement and practice principled renunciation of blameworthy conduct/policies to preserve legitimacy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Growth of Enemies and the Principle of Renouncing the Blameworthy","lookup_keywords":["vivṛddha-śatru","vināśa","dūṣya","parityāga","mahīyas"],"quick_summary":"Allowing enemies to grow leads to ruin; a great person’s renunciation of what is censurable is itself a major rule of conduct and statecraft."}
Concept: Greatness includes the capacity to abandon censurable actions; ethical self-correction is a pillar of durable power.
Application: Audit policies and personal conduct; abandon exploitative measures, corrupt advisors, and unjust practices that create enemies and strengthen rivals.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, statecraft, and ethical counsel)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A wise ruler receiving counsel: on one side an enemy army growing in strength; on the other the ruler discarding a corrupt decree or symbol of wrongdoing, signifying renunciation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, counselor (mantrin) gesturing to a swelling enemy force in the background, king calmly casting away a dark scroll labeled 'dūṣya', balanced composition, bold outlines and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with halo-like arch, gold-leaf emphasis on the act of 'parityāga'—dropping a tainted object; enemy camp shown as expanding banners, ornate court setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: top—enemy growth leading to collapse; bottom—king renouncing blameworthy practice and stabilizing realm; fine lines, soft colors, explanatory captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate council chamber with detailed textiles; outside the window enemy ranks multiply; king hands over a corrupt edict to be burned, nuanced facial expressions and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; दूषणार्थञ्च = दूषणार्थम् + च (म् + च → ञ्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 240 (nīti on enemies, vices, and artha-doṣa)
FAQs
This is Nīti-vidyā (practical statecraft/ethics): it warns that strengthened enemies lead to ruin and teaches that a leader should abandon blameworthy practices to uphold dharma and public trust.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves governance manuals (Rajadharma/Nīti), including political risk (enemy growth) and ethical policy (renouncing censurable conduct), showing its multi-disciplinary scope.
Renouncing what is दूष्य (blameworthy) is a dharmic purification: it reduces negative karma, strengthens satya/śīla, and aligns personal and royal conduct with righteous order.