Agni Purana

ग्रभावः शुचिता मैत्री त्यागः सत्यं कृतज्ञता । कुलं शीलं दमश्चेति गुणाः सम्पत्तिहेतवः ।। २३८.

Nobility of birth, purity, friendship, generosity, truthfulness, gratitude, family, character, and self-restraint—these virtues are the causes of prosperity.

प्रकीर्णविषयारण्ये धावन्तं विप्रमाथिनं । ज्ञानाङ्कुशेन कुर्व्वीत वश्यमिन्द्रियदन्तिनं ।। २३८.

In the forest of scattered sense-objects, the mind runs wild and is destructive; with the goad of knowledge, one should bring the elephant of the senses under control.

कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभो हर्षो मानो मदस्तथा । षड्‌वर्गमुतसृजेदेनमस्मिंस्त्यक्ते सुखी नृपः ।। २३८.

Desire, anger, greed, delight, pride, and arrogance—these six should be abandoned; the king who gives them up is happy.

आन्वीक्षिकीं त्रयीं वार्त्तां दण्डनीतिं च पार्थिवः । तद्विद्यैस्तत्‌क्रियोपैतैश्चिन्तयेद्विनयान्वितः ।। २३८.

A king should reflect, with discipline, upon inquiry, the three Vedas, commerce, and the science of governance, using the knowledge and practices associated with each.

आन्वीक्षिक्यार्थविज्ञानं धर्म्माधर्मौ त्रयीस्थितौ । अर्थानर्थौ तु वार्त्तायां दण्डनीत्यां नयानयौ ।। २३८.

Inquiry leads to understanding of meaning; righteousness and unrighteousness are found in the three Vedas; gain and loss are in commerce; right and wrong policy are in the science of governance.

अहिंसा सूनृता वाणी सत्यं शौचं दया क्षमा । वणिनां लिङ्गिनां चैव सामान्यो धर्म्म उच्यते ।। २३८.

Nonviolence, gentle speech, truthfulness, purity, compassion, and forgiveness—these are said to be the common duties for both householders and renunciants.

प्रजाः समनुगृह्णीयात् कुर्य्यादाचारसंस्थितिं । वाक्‌ सूनृता दया दानं हिनोपगतरक्षणं ।। २३८.

He should care for his people, establish proper conduct, speak kindly, show compassion, give gifts, and protect those who are oppressed.

इति वृत्तं सतां साधुहितं सत्पुरुषव्रतं । आधिव्याधिपरीताय अद्य श्वो वा विनाशिने ।। २३८.

Such conduct is the vow of the virtuous, beneficial to the good; for those afflicted by sorrow and disease, whether today or tomorrow, it is their support.

को हि राजा शरीराय धर्म्मापेतं समाचरेत् । न हि स्वसुखमन्विच्छन् पीडयेत् कृपणं जनं ।। २३८.

What king would act unrighteously for the sake of his own body? Seeking his own happiness, he should not oppress the unfortunate.

कृपणः पीड्यमानो हि मन्युना इन्ति पार्थिवं । क्रियतेऽभ्यर्हणीयाय स्वजनाय यथाञ्जलिः ।। २३८.

When the unfortunate are oppressed, they turn their anger toward the king, just as one offers reverence to those worthy among their own people.

ततः साधुतरः कार्यो दुर्जनाय शिवाथिंना । प्रियमेवाभिघातव्यं सत्सु नित्यं द्विषत्सु च ।। २३८.

Therefore, one should act more virtuously toward the wicked, with auspicious intent; always show kindness to the good and even to those who are hostile.

देवास्ते प्रियवक्तारः पशवः क्रूरवादिनः । शुचिरास्तिक्यपूतात्मा पूजयेद्देवताः सदा ।। २३८.

Those who speak kindly are like gods; those who speak harshly are like beasts. One whose mind is pure and faithful should always worship the deities.

देवतावद् गुरुजनमात्मवच्च सुहृज्जनं । प्रणिपातेन हि गुरुं सतोऽमृषानुचेष्टितैः ।। २३८.

One should honor the deities, teachers, and friends as oneself; a teacher is to be approached with reverence and without false conduct.

कुर्व्वीताभिमुखान् भृत्यैर्द्दवान् सुकृतकर्म्मणा । मद्‌भावेन हरेन्मित्रं सम्भ्रमेण च बान्धवान् ।। २३८.

One should face servants with kindness for their good deeds, treat friends with affection, and relatives with respect.

स्त्रीभृत्यान् प्रेम्दानाभ्यां दाक्षिण्येनेतरं जनं । अनिन्दा परकृत्येषु स्वधर्म्मपरिपालनं ।। २३८.

Toward women and servants, one should show love and generosity; toward others, courtesy; do not criticize others' actions, and always uphold one's own duty.

कृपणेषु दयालुत्वं सर्वत्र मधुरा गिरः । प्राणैरप्यपकारित्वं मित्रायाव्यभिचारिणे ।। २३८.

Be compassionate to the unfortunate, speak sweetly to all, and remain unwaveringly loyal to a friend, even at the cost of one's own life.

गृहागते परिष्वङ्गः सक्त्या दानं सहिष्णुता । स्वसमृद्धिष्वनुत्सेकः पररवृद्धिष्वमत्सरः ।। २३८.

When a guest arrives, embrace them, give gifts according to ability, be patient; do not be arrogant in your own prosperity, nor envious of another's success.

अपरोपतापि वचनं मौनव्रतचरिष्णुता । बन्धुभिर्बद्धसंयोगः स्वजने चतुरश्रता ।। २३८.

Even without direct opposition, speech, observance of the vow of silence, union with relatives, and cleverness among one's own people—

राम उवाच स्वाम्यमात्यञ्च राष्ट्रञ्च दुर्गं कोषो बलं सुहृतं । परस्परोपकारीदं सप्ताङ्गं राकज्यमुच्य्ते ।। २३९.

Rama said: The master, the minister, the territory, the fortress, the treasury, the army, and the friend—these seven mutually supporting elements are called the limbs of a kingdom.

राज्याङ्गानां वरं राष्ट्रं साधनं पालयेत् सदा । कुलं शीलं वयः सत्त्वं दाक्षिण्यं क्षिप्रकारिता ।। २३९.

Among the limbs of the kingdom, the territory is best; it should always be maintained with resources. Family, character, age, strength, generosity, and prompt action—

अविसंवादिता सत्यं वृद्धसेवा कृतज्ञता । दैवसम्पन्नता बुद्धिरक्षुद्रपरिवारता ।। २३९.

Truthfulness, reliability, service to elders, gratitude, possession of divine fortune, intelligence, and freedom from inferior associates—

दीर्घदर्शित्वमुत्साहः शुचिता स्थूललक्षिता ।। २३९.

Foresight, enthusiasm, purity, and recognition of important matters—

विनीतत्वं धार्मिकता साधोश्च नृपतेर्गुणाः । प्रख्यातवंशमक्रूरं लोकसङ्‌ग्राहिणं शुचिं ।। २३९.

Humility, righteousness, and the qualities of a virtuous king: renowned lineage, gentleness, ability to unite people, and purity—

कुर्व्वीतात्महिताकाङ्क्षी परिचारं महीपतिः । वाग्मी प्रगल्भः स्मृतिमानुदग्रो बलवान् वशी ।। २३९.

A king seeking his own welfare should appoint attendants who are eloquent, bold, mindful, unarrogant, strong, and self-controlled—

नेता दण्डस्य निपुणः कृतशिल्पपरिग्रहः । पराभियोगप्रसहः सर्वदुष्टप्रतिक्रिया ।। २३९.

A leader skilled in punishment, accomplished in arts and acquisitions, able to withstand hostile attacks, and capable of countering all wickedness—

परवृत्तान्ववेक्षी च सन्धिविग्रहतत्तववित् । गूढमन्त्रप्रचारज्ञो देशकालविभागवित् ।। २३९.

One who observes the conduct of others, knows the principles of alliance and conflict, is expert in secret counsel, and understands the distinctions of place and time—

आदाता सम्यगर्थानां विनियोक्ता च पात्रवित् । क्रोधलोभभयद्रोहदम्भचापलवर्ज्जितः ।। २३९.

A proper collector of wealth, a distributor who knows the right recipients, free from anger, greed, fear, betrayal, deceit, and fickleness—

परोपतापपैशून्यमात्सर्येर्षानृतातिगः । वृद्धोपदेशसम्पन्नः शक्तो मधुरदर्शनः ।। २३९.

Free from harming others, emptiness, envy, jealousy, falsehood, and transgression; endowed with the counsel of elders, capable, and pleasant in appearance—

गुणानुरागस्थितिमानात्मसम्पद्‌गुणा स्मृताः । सुलीनाः शुचयः शूराः श्रुतवन्तोऽनुरागिणः ।। २३९.

Firm in attachment to virtues, possessing self-acquired qualities; gentle, pure, courageous, learned, and affectionate—