Agni Purana — Chapter 224
AgP 224.1
:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महाओपुराणे स्त्रीरक्षादिकामशास्त्रं नाम त्रयोविंशत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः ॥ छप्तेर् {२२४} :श् अथ चतुर्विंशत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः राजधर्माः पुष्कर उवाच राजपुत्रस्य रक्षा च कर्तव्या पृथिवीक्षिता धर्मार्थकामशास्त्राणि धनुर्वेदञ्च शिक्षयेत्
:e ity āgneye mahāopurāṇe strīrakṣādikāmaśāstraṃ nāma trayoviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ || chapter {224} :ś atha caturviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ rājadharmāḥ puṣkara uvāca rājaputrasya rakṣā ca kartavyā pṛthivīkṣitā dharmārthakāmaśāstrāṇi dhanurvedañca śikṣayet
Thus (ends) in the Āgneya Mahāpurāṇa the two hundred twenty-third chapter, called the erotic science beginning with the protection of women. Chapter 224. Now the two hundred twenty-fourth chapter: the duties of a king. Puṣkara said: The protection of the king's son too must be undertaken by the ruler of the earth; he should have him taught the sciences of dharma, artha and kāma, and the science of archery.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.2
शिल्पानि शिक्षयेच्चैवमाप्तैर् मिथ्याप्रियंवदैः शरीररक्षाव्याजेन रक्षिणो ऽस्य नियोजयेत्
śilpāni śikṣayeccaivamāptair mithyāpriyaṃvadaiḥ śarīrarakṣāvyājena rakṣiṇo 'sya niyojayet
And thus he should have him taught the crafts, by trusted men who speak agreeably but falsely; and on the pretext of bodily protection he should appoint guards over him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.3
न चास्य सङ्गो दातव्यः क्रुद्धलुब्धविमानितैः अशक्यन्तु गुणाधानं कर्तुं तं बन्धयेत् मुखैः
na cāsya saṅgo dātavyaḥ kruddhalubdhavimānitaiḥ aśakyantu guṇādhānaṃ kartuṃ taṃ bandhayet mukhaiḥ
And he (the prince) should not be allowed association with those who are angry, greedy, or slighted; but if he cannot be endowed with (good) qualities, (the king) should bind him by (various) means.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 224.4
अधिकारेषु सर्वेषु विनीतं विनियोजयेत् मृगयां पानमक्षांश् च राज्यनाशंस्त्यजेन्नृपः
adhikāreṣu sarveṣu vinītaṃ viniyojayet mṛgayāṃ pānamakṣāṃś ca rājyanāśaṃstyajennṛpaḥ
He should appoint a well-disciplined man to all offices; the king should give up hunting, drinking, and dice, which destroy the kingdom.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.5
दिवास्वप्नं वृथाट्याञ्च वाक्पारुष्यं विवर्जयेत् निन्दाञ्च दण्डपारुष्यमर्थदूषणमुत्सृजेत्
divāsvapnaṃ vṛthāṭyāñca vākpāruṣyaṃ vivarjayet nindāñca daṇḍapāruṣyamarthadūṣaṇamutsṛjet
He should avoid sleeping by day, aimless roaming, and harshness of speech; and he should renounce censure, harshness in punishment, and the misuse of wealth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.6
आकाराणां समुछेदो दुर्गादीनामसत्क्रिया :प् ३१७ अर्थानां दूषणं प्रोक्तं विप्रकीर्णत्वमेव च
ākārāṇāṃ samuchedo durgādīnāmasatkriyā :p 317 arthānāṃ dūṣaṇaṃ proktaṃ viprakīrṇatvameva ca
The cutting off of sources of revenue (mines), the neglect of forts and the like, and dispersion (of resources) — these are called the misuse of wealth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 224.7
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रे दानमेव च अर्थेषु दूषणं प्रोक्तमसत्कर्मप्रवर्तनं
adeśakāle yaddānamapātre dānameva ca artheṣu dūṣaṇaṃ proktamasatkarmapravartanaṃ
Giving at a wrong place and time, and giving to an unworthy recipient, and the setting in motion of bad works — this is called misuse with regard to wealth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.8
कामं क्रोधं मदं मानं लोभं दर्पञ्च वर्जयेत् ततो भृत्यजयङ्कृत्वा पौरजानपदं जयेत्
kāmaṃ krodhaṃ madaṃ mānaṃ lobhaṃ darpañca varjayet tato bhṛtyajayaṅkṛtvā paurajānapadaṃ jayet
He should avoid desire, anger, intoxication, pride, greed, and arrogance; then, having won over his servants, he should win over the townsmen and the country-folk.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.9
जयेद्वाह्यानरीन् पश्चाद्वाह्याश् च त्रिविधारयः गुरवस्ते यथा पूर्वं कुल्यानन्तरकृत्रिमाः
jayedvāhyānarīn paścādvāhyāś ca trividhārayaḥ guravaste yathā pūrvaṃ kulyānantarakṛtrimāḥ
Afterwards he should conquer the external enemies; and external enemies are of three kinds, increasingly grave in order: those of the (royal) family, those adjoining (his realm), and artificial (made ones).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 224.10
पितृपैतामहं मित्रं सामन्तञ्च तथा रिपोः कृत्रिमञ्च महाभाग मित्रन्त्रिविधमुच्यते
pitṛpaitāmahaṃ mitraṃ sāmantañca tathā ripoḥ kṛtrimañca mahābhāga mitrantrividhamucyate
A friend from father's and grandfather's time, a neighbouring ruler, and likewise (one who is the friend) of an enemy, and an artificial one — O greatly fortunate one, a friend is said to be of three kinds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 224.11
स्वाम्यमात्यञ्जनपदा दुर्गं दण्दस्तथैव च कोषो मित्रञ्च धर्मज्ञ सप्ताङ्गं राज्यमुच्यते
svāmyamātyañjanapadā durgaṃ daṇdastathaiva ca koṣo mitrañca dharmajña saptāṅgaṃ rājyamucyate
The lord, the minister, the country-districts, the fort, and likewise the army, the treasury, and an ally — O knower of dharma, the kingdom is said to have these seven limbs.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.12
मूलं स्वामी स वै रक्ष्यस्तस्माद्राज्यं(१) विशेषतः राज्याङ्गद्रोहिणं हन्यात्काले तीक्ष्णो मृदुर्भवेत्
mūlaṃ svāmī sa vai rakṣyastasmādrājyaṃ(1) viśeṣataḥ rājyāṅgadrohiṇaṃ hanyātkāle tīkṣṇo mṛdurbhavet
The lord is the root; he indeed is to be protected, and therefore the kingdom especially. He should kill one who is treacherous to a limb of the kingdom; he should be harsh or mild according to the occasion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.13
एवं लोकद्वयं राज्ञो भृत्यैर् हासं विवर्जयेत् भृत्याः परिभवन्तीह नृपं हर्षणसत्कथं
evaṃ lokadvayaṃ rājño bhṛtyair hāsaṃ vivarjayet bhṛtyāḥ paribhavantīha nṛpaṃ harṣaṇasatkathaṃ
Thus (he gains) both worlds; the king should avoid laughing (jesting) with servants; servants here despise a king who is given to merriment and idle talk.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 224.14
लोकसङ्ग्रहणार्थाय कृतकव्यसनो भवेत् स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषी स्यात् लोकानां रञ्जनं चरेत्
lokasaṅgrahaṇārthāya kṛtakavyasano bhavet smitapūrvābhibhāṣī syāt lokānāṃ rañjanaṃ caret
For the sake of winning over people he may feign an addiction; he should speak with a smile first, and should practise the pleasing of the people.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.15
दीर्घसूत्रस्य नृपतेः कर्महानिर्ध्रुवं भवेत् रागे दर्पे च माने च द्रोहे पापे च कर्मणि
dīrghasūtrasya nṛpateḥ karmahānirdhruvaṃ bhavet rāge darpe ca māne ca drohe pāpe ca karmaṇi
For a king who is dilatory the ruin of his undertakings surely comes about; (but) in passion, in arrogance, in pride, in treachery, and in a sinful act,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.16
अप्रिये चैव वक्तव्ये दीर्घसूत्रः प्रशस्यते सुप्तमन्त्रो भवेद्राजा नापदो गुप्तमन्त्रतः
apriye caiva vaktavye dīrghasūtraḥ praśasyate suptamantro bhavedrājā nāpado guptamantrataḥ
and when something unpleasant has to be said, one who is slow is praised. A king should be one whose counsel is asleep (kept secret); there is no calamity for him whose counsel is guarded.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.17
:न् १ तस्माद्राष्ट्रमिति ख॥ , ग॥ , घ॥ , छ॥ , ज॥ , ञ॥ , ट॥ च :प् ३१८ ज्ञायते हि कृतं कर्म नारब्धं तस्य राज्यकं(१) आकारैर् इङ्गितैर् गत्या चेष्टया भाषितेन च
:n 1 tasmādrāṣṭramiti kha.. , ga.. , gha.. , cha.. , ja.. , ña.. , ṭa.. ca :p 318 jñāyate hi kṛtaṃ karma nārabdhaṃ tasya rājyakaṃ(1) ākārair iṅgitair gatyā ceṣṭayā bhāṣitena ca
For (only) the deed done, not the one (merely) begun, becomes known — that is his kingly (way); by outward signs, by gestures, by gait, by movement, and by speech,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 224.18
नेत्रवक्तविकाराभ्यां गृह्यते ऽन्तर्गतं पुनः नैकस्तु मन्त्रयेन् मन्त्रं न राजा बहुभिः सह
netravaktavikārābhyāṃ gṛhyate 'ntargataṃ punaḥ naikastu mantrayen mantraṃ na rājā bahubhiḥ saha
and by changes of eye and face, what is inward is grasped. A king should not deliberate on counsel alone, nor together with many.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.19
बहुभिर्मन्त्रयेत् कामं राजा मन्त्रान् पृथक् पृथक् मन्त्रिणामपि नो कुर्यान् मन्त्री मन्त्रप्रकाशनं
bahubhirmantrayet kāmaṃ rājā mantrān pṛthak pṛthak mantriṇāmapi no kuryān mantrī mantraprakāśanaṃ
The king may, if he wishes, deliberate with many, (but) the counsels separately, one by one; and a counsellor should not disclose the counsel even to the (other) counsellors.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.20
क्वापि कस्यापि(२) विश्वासो भवतीह सदा नृणां निश् चयश् च तथा मन्त्रे कार्य एकेन सूरिणा
kvāpi kasyāpi(2) viśvāso bhavatīha sadā nṛṇāṃ niś cayaś ca tathā mantre kārya ekena sūriṇā
Anywhere, in anyone, there is always trust among men here; and so the decision in a matter of counsel is to be made by a single wise man.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 224.21
नश्येदविनयाद्राजा राज्यञ्च विनयाल्लभेत् त्रैविद्येभ्यस्त्रयीं विद्यां दण्डनीतिञ्च शाश्वतीं
naśyedavinayādrājā rājyañca vinayāllabhet traividyebhyastrayīṃ vidyāṃ daṇḍanītiñca śāśvatīṃ
A king would perish through want of discipline, and through discipline he would gain a kingdom: (he should learn) the threefold knowledge from those versed in the three Vedas, and the eternal science of punishment,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.22
आन्वीक्षिकीञ्चार्थविद्यां वार्तारम्भांश् च लोकतः जितेन्द्रियो हि शक्नोति वशे स्थापयितुं प्रजाः
ānvīkṣikīñcārthavidyāṃ vārtārambhāṃś ca lokataḥ jitendriyo hi śaknoti vaśe sthāpayituṃ prajāḥ
and logic, and the science of wealth, and the undertakings of agriculture and trade from the people; for one who has conquered his senses is able to keep his subjects under control.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.23
पूज्या देवा द्विजाः सर्वे दद्याद्दानानि तेषु च द्विजे दानञ्चाक्षयो ऽयं निधिः कैश्चिन्न नाश्यते
pūjyā devā dvijāḥ sarve dadyāddānāni teṣu ca dvije dānañcākṣayo 'yaṃ nidhiḥ kaiścinna nāśyate
The gods and all the twice-born are to be honoured, and (the king) should give gifts to them; a gift to a brahmin is this imperishable treasure, which is destroyed by none.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.24
सङ्ग्रामेष्वनिवर्तित्वं प्रजानां परिपालनं दानानि ब्राह्मणानाञ्च राज्ञो निःश्रेयसम्परं
saṅgrāmeṣvanivartitvaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanaṃ dānāni brāhmaṇānāñca rājño niḥśreyasamparaṃ
Not turning back in battles, the protection of the subjects, and gifts to the brahmins — this is the highest good for a king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.25
कृपणानाथवृद्धानां विधवानाञ्च योषितां योगक्षेमञ्च वृत्तिञ्च तथैव परिकल्पयेत्
kṛpaṇānāthavṛddhānāṃ vidhavānāñca yoṣitāṃ yogakṣemañca vṛttiñca tathaiva parikalpayet
And in the same way he should arrange the welfare and the livelihood of the wretched, the helpless and the aged, and of widowed women.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.26
वर्णाश्रमव्यवस्थानं कार्यन्तापसपूजनं न विश्वसेच्च सर्वत्र तापसेषु च विश्वसेत्
varṇāśramavyavasthānaṃ kāryantāpasapūjanaṃ na viśvasecca sarvatra tāpaseṣu ca viśvaset
The regulation of the classes and the stages of life is to be effected, and the honouring of ascetics; he should not trust everywhere, but in ascetics he may trust.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.27
विश्वासयेच्चापि परन्तत्त्वभूतेन हेतुना :न् १ तस्य कर्मकमिति ख॥ २ क्वचित् कस्यापि इति ख॥ , ग॥ , घ॥ , ज॥ , ट॥ च :प् ३१९ वकविच्चिन्तयेदर्थं सिंहवच्च पराक्रमेत्
viśvāsayeccāpi parantattvabhūtena hetunā :n 1 tasya karmakamiti kha.. 2 kvacit kasyāpi iti kha.. , ga.. , gha.. , ja.. , ṭa.. ca :p 319 vakaviccintayedarthaṃ siṃhavacca parākramet
And he should also make the other trust (him) by a reason grounded in truth. [textual notes] He should reflect on his aim like a heron, and show prowess like a lion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 224.28
वृकवच्चावलुम्पेत शशवच्च विनिष्पतेत् दृढप्रहरी च भवेत् तथा शूकरवन्नृपः
vṛkavaccāvalumpeta śaśavacca viniṣpatet dṛḍhapraharī ca bhavet tathā śūkaravannṛpaḥ
He should tear away (his prey) like a wolf, and dart off like a hare; and the king should be a hard striker, like a boar.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.29
चित्रकारश् च शिखिवद् दृढभक्तिस् तथाश्ववत् भवेच्च मधुराभाषी तथा कोकिलवन्नृपः
citrakāraś ca śikhivad dṛḍhabhaktis tathāśvavat bhavecca madhurābhāṣī tathā kokilavannṛpaḥ
And (he should be) variegated like a peacock, and firm in devotion like a horse; and the king should be sweet of speech, like a cuckoo.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.30
काकशङ्की भवेन्नित्यमज्ञातां वसतिं वसेत् नापरीक्षितपूर्वञ्च भोजनं शयनं स्पृशेत्
kākaśaṅkī bhavennityamajñātāṃ vasatiṃ vaset nāparīkṣitapūrvañca bhojanaṃ śayanaṃ spṛśet
He should always be as wary as a crow, and should dwell in an unknown dwelling; and he should not touch food or a bed that has not been examined beforehand.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.31
नाविज्ञातां स्त्रियं गच्छेन्नाज्ञातां नावमारुद्वेत् राष्ट्रकर्षी भ्रस्यते च राज्यार्थाच्चैव जीवितात्
nāvijñātāṃ striyaṃ gacchennājñātāṃ nāvamārudvet rāṣṭrakarṣī bhrasyate ca rājyārthāccaiva jīvitāt
He should not go to a woman who is unknown (to him), nor mount an unknown (vehicle or mount); and one who oppresses the realm falls from kingdom, wealth and life itself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.32
भृतो वत्सो जातबलः कर्मयोग्यो यथा भवेत् तथा राष्ट्रं महाभाग भृतं कर्मसहं भवेत्
bhṛto vatso jātabalaḥ karmayogyo yathā bhavet tathā rāṣṭraṃ mahābhāga bhṛtaṃ karmasahaṃ bhavet
As a well-fed calf, having gained strength, becomes fit for work, so, O greatly fortunate one, a realm that is well maintained becomes able to bear work.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.33
सर्वं कर्मेदमायत्तं विधाने दैवपौरुषे तयोर्दैवमचिन्त्यं हि पौरुषे विद्यते क्रिया
sarvaṃ karmedamāyattaṃ vidhāne daivapauruṣe tayordaivamacintyaṃ hi pauruṣe vidyate kriyā
All this action depends on the ordinance of fate and human effort; of the two, fate is unthinkable, while in human effort action is found.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 224.34
जनानुरागप्रभवा राज्ञो राज्यमहीश्रियः ॥३४
janānurāgaprabhavā rājño rājyamahīśriyaḥ //34
A king's kingdom, land and prosperity arise from the affection of the people.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition