Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Prātyahika-Rāja-Karma
Daily Duties of a King
स्नानं कुर्यान्नृपः पश्चाद्दन्तधावनपूर्वकं कृत्वा सन्ध्यान्ततो जप्यं वासुदेवं प्रपूजयेत्
snānaṃ kuryānnṛpaḥ paścāddantadhāvanapūrvakaṃ kṛtvā sandhyāntato japyaṃ vāsudevaṃ prapūjayet
Sau đó, nhà vua nên tắm; trước hết làm sạch răng miệng, rồi cử hành nghi lễ Sandhyā, tụng niệm japa theo quy định, và kính cẩn thờ phụng Vāsudeva.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, customary frame of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Daily royal nitya-karma: hygiene (dantadhāvana), bathing, Sandhyā, japa, and worship of Vāsudeva to maintain ritual purity and legitimacy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Royal Nitya-karma: Dantadhāvana, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Vāsudeva-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["snāna","danta-dhāvana","sandhyā","japa","vāsudeva-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"The king’s day is sanctified by bodily cleansing, then Sandhyā and japa, culminating in reverent worship of Vāsudeva—linking personal purity with dharmic rulership."}
Concept: Śauca and upāsanā: external cleansing supports internal steadiness; japa and pūjā align the ruler with dharma.
Application: Maintain a fixed daily schedule for Sandhyā and japa; establish a palace shrine for Vāsudeva worship to model dharmic conduct for subjects.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Nitya-karma (Royal daily duties and ritual regimen)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Type: Palace/Shrine
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The king performs tooth-cleaning, bathes, then sits facing east for Sandhyā and japa, finally offering flowers and incense to a Vāsudeva image in a palace shrine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential palace ritual: attendants with water pots, king at river-bath or bathing chamber, then seated in Sandhyā posture with rosary, then Vāsudeva shrine with lamp flames and lotus offerings","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, Vāsudeva idol richly adorned, king offering ārati and flowers, ornate jewelry and textiles, haloed deity, embossed gold background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, calm instructional ritual scene: king seated for Sandhyā-japa with mālā, small shrine of Vāsudeva, neatly arranged pūjā items (ghṛta lamp, incense, water vessel)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate palace oratory: king in simple white cloth after bath, performing japa, then offering at a small Viṣṇu shrine; fine architectural details and soft naturalism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Raga Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्यान्नृपः → कुर्यात् नृपः; पश्चाद्दन्त... → पश्चात् दन्त...; सन्ध्यान्ततो → सन्ध्याम् ततः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on Sandhyā-vidhi and japa; Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi and Vaiṣṇava stotra/mantra passages
FAQs
It prescribes a nitya-karma sequence for a ruler: tooth-cleaning (dantadhāvana) → bathing (snāna) → Sandhyā rite → mantra-japa → formal worship (pūjā) of Vāsudeva.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana codifies practical governance by detailing a king’s disciplined daily regimen, integrating hygiene, ritual purity, mantra practice, and sectarian devotion as part of statecraft and personal dharma.
By beginning with purification and completing Sandhyā, japa, and devotion to Vāsudeva, the king aligns daily action with dharma—supporting inner purity, merit (puṇya), and steadiness of mind for righteous rule.