Agni Purana

म्रियन्नपि न चादद्याद् ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तथा करं । यस्य राज्ञस्तु विषये श्रोत्रियः सीदति क्षुधा ।। २२२.

Even if dying, he should not take tax from Brahmins; if a learned Brahmin suffers from hunger in the king’s domain—

तस्य सीदति तद्राष्ट्रं व्याधिदुर्भिक्षतस्तरैः । श्रुतं वृत्तन्तु विज्ञाय वृत्तिं तस्य प्रकल्पयेत् ।। २२२.

That kingdom declines due to disease, famine, and calamity; knowing this, the king should provide for his livelihood.

क्षेच्च सर्वतस्त्वेनं पिता पुत्रमिवौरसं । संरक्ष्यमाणो राज्ञा यः कुरुते धर्ममन्वहं ।। २२२.

He should protect him everywhere, as a father does his own son; one who is protected by the king and practices righteousness daily—

तेनायुर्वर्द्धते राज्ञो द्रविणं राष्ट्रमेव च । कर्म्म कुर्युर्न्नरेन्द्रस्य मासेनैकञ्च१० शिल्पिनः ।। २२२.

By him, the king’s life, wealth, and kingdom increase; artisans should perform their work for the king, one task each month.

राजधर्माः पुष्कर उवाच वक्ष्येऽन्तः पुरचिन्तां च धर्माद्याः पुरुषार्थकाः । अन्योन्यरक्षया तेषां सेवा कार्या स्त्रिया नृपैः ।। २२४.

Puṣkara said: I will now explain the concerns of the inner palace, and the duties that lead to the aims of life; among them, mutual protection and service by women must be ensured by kings.

धर्ममूलोऽर्थविटपस्तथा कर्म्मफलो महान् । त्रिवर्गपादपस्तत्र रक्षया फलभाग्‌ भवेत् ।। २२४.

Righteousness is the root, wealth is the trunk, and great is the fruit of action; in this tree of the three aims, by protection, one obtains a share of the fruit.

कामाधीनाः१ स्त्रियो राम तदर्थं रत्नसङ्‌ग्रहः । सेव्यास्ता नातिसेव्यास्च भूभुजा विषयैषिणा ।। २२४.

Women are subject to desire, O Rāma; for that reason, the collection of jewels is important. The king who seeks to enjoy his realm should serve them, but not excessively.

दुष्टान्याचरते४ या तु नाभिनन्दति तत्कथां। ऐक्यं द्विषद्भिर्व्रजति गर्वं वहति चोद्धता ।। २२४.

A wicked woman acts wrongly, does not welcome such talk, joins with enemies, and bears pride with arrogance.

चुम्बिता मार्ष्टि वदनं दत्तन्न बहु मन्यते । स्वपित्यादौ प्रसुप्तापि तथा पश्चाद्विबुध्यते ।। २२४.

When kissed, she wipes her face, does not value the food given to her, sleeps at the beginning and even after, and wakes only later.

स्पृष्टा धुनोति गात्राणि गात्रञ्च विरुणाद्धि या । ईषच्छृणोति वाक्यानि प्रियाण्यपि पराङ्‌मुखी ।। २२४.

When touched, she shakes her limbs and turns her body away; she barely listens to words, even loving ones, and turns her face aside.

तत्कामितासु च स्त्रीसु मध्यस्थेव च लक्ष्यते । ज्ञातमण्डनकालापि न करोति च मण्डनं ।। २२४.

Among women who are desired, one who is indifferent is recognized by this: though she knows it is time to adorn herself, she does not do so.

दृष्ट्वैव हृष्टा भवति वीक्षिते च पराङ्‌मुखी ।। २२४.

At the mere sight, she becomes delighted, and when looked at, she turns her face away.

दृश्यमाना तथान्यत्र दृष्टिं क्षिपति चञ्चलां । तथाप्युपावर्त्तयितुं नैव शक्रोत्यशेषतः ।। २२४.

When being observed elsewhere, she casts her restless glance, yet even then she cannot fully turn away.

विवृणीति तथाह्गानि स्वस्या गुह्यानि भार्गव । गहितञ्च तथैवाङ्गं प्रयत्नेन निगूहति ।। २२४.

In this way, O Bhārgava, she reveals her own limbs and secrets, yet carefully conceals the part that is grasped.

तद्दर्शने च कुरुते वालालिड्गनचुम्बनं । आभाष्यमाणा भवति सत्यवाक्या तथैव च ।। २२४.

Upon seeing him, she engages in playful gestures, embraces, and kisses; when spoken to, she responds truthfully as well.

स्पृष्टा पुलकितैरङ्गैः स्वेदेनैव च भज्यते । करोति च तथा राम सुलभद्रव्ययाचनं ।। २२४.

When touched, her limbs become thrilled and she is covered with sweat; and, O Rāma, she readily asks for small gifts.

ततः स्वल्पमपि प्राप्य करोति परमां मुदं । नामसङ्कीर्त्तनादेव मुदिता बहु मन्यते ।। २२४.

Then, even upon receiving a little, she feels the utmost joy; simply by hearing her name praised, she considers herself greatly delighted.

करकजाङ्काङ्कितान्यस्य फलानि प्रेषयत्यपि । तत्प्रेषितञ्च हृदये विन्यसत्यपि चादरात् ।। २२४.

She sends him fruits marked by her own hand, and with affection, she places what he sends to her upon her heart.

आलिङ्गनैश्च गात्राणि लिम्पतीवामृतेन या । सुप्ते स्वपित्यथादौ च तथा तस्य विबुध्यते ।। २२४.

With embraces, she covers his body as if with nectar; when he sleeps, she too sleeps, and at first, she awakens as he does.

उरू स्पृशति चात्यर्थं सुप्तञ्चैनं विबुध्यते । कपित्थचूर्णयोगेन तथा दध्नः स्रजा तथा ।। २२४.

She touches his thighs excessively and awakens him from sleep; with kapittha powder and with a garland of curd, likewise.

घृतं सुगन्धि भवति दुग्धैः क्षिप्तैस्तथा यवैः । भोज्यस्य कल्पनैवं स्याद्‌गन्धमुक्तिः प्रदर्श्यते ।। २२४.

Ghee becomes fragrant when mixed with milk and barley; thus, the preparation of food is shown to produce fragrance.

शौचमाचमनं राम तथैव च विरेचनं । भावना चैव पाकश्च बोधनं धूपनन्तथा ।। २२४.

Purification, sipping water, likewise purgation, contemplation, cooking, awakening, and fumigation, O Rāma.

वासनञ्चैव निर्द्दिष्टं कर्म्माष्टकमिदं स्मृतं । कपित्थविल्वजम्वाम्रकरवीरकपल्लबैः ।। २२४.

And also perfuming—these eight acts are prescribed; with kapittha, bilva, mango, and karavīra leaves.

कृत्वोदकन्तु यद्‌द्रव्यं शौवितं शौचनन्तु तत् । तेषामभावे शौचन्तु मृगदर्पाम्भसा भवेत् ।। २२४.

Whatever substance is purified with water, that is considered pure; in their absence, purity is achieved with musk water.

सरलं देवकाष्ठञ्च८ कर्पूरं कान्तया सह । बालः कुन्दुरुकश्चैव गुग्गुलुः श्रीनिवासकः ।। २२४.

Sarala, devadāru wood, camphor together with kunda, bāla, kunduruka, guggulu, and śrīnivāsaka.

सह सर्जरसेनैवं धूपद्रव्यैकविंशतिः । धूपद्रव्यगणादस्मादेकविंशाद्यथेच्छया ।। २२४.

With sarja resin in this way, these are the twenty-one incense substances; from this group of incense substances, any number may be used as desired.

द्वे द्वे द्रव्ये समादाय सर्जभागैर्न्नियोजयेत् । नखपिण्याकमलयैः संयोज्य मधुना तथा ।। २२४.

Taking two of each substance, they should be mixed with equal parts of sarja; combined with nail, sesame cake, and honey as well.

मासीं सुराञ्च कुष्ठञ्च स्नानद्रव्याणि निर्दिशेत् ।। २२४.

Māsi, surā, and kuṣṭha are prescribed as bathing substances.

एतेभ्यस्तु समादाय द्रव्यत्रयमथेच्छया । मृगदर्पयुतं स्नानं कार्यं कन्दर्पवर्द्धनं ।। २२४.

From these, taking any three substances as desired, a bath mixed with musk should be prepared, which increases love.