Agni Purana

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—

दण्डनीतेः प्रयोक्तारः सचिवाः स्युर्म्महीपतेः । सुविग्रहो जानपदः कुलशीलकलान्वितः ।। २३९.

Those who administer punishment are the ministers of the king; the people should be well-formed, endowed with family, character, and skill—

वाग्मी प्रगल्भश्चक्षुष्मानुत्साही प्रतिपत्तिमान् । स्तम्भ्चापलहीनश्च मैत्रः क्लेशसहः शुचिः ।। २३९.

Eloquent, bold, keen-sighted, enthusiastic, perceptive, free from stubbornness and fickleness, friendly, enduring hardship, and pure—

सत्यसत्त्वधृतिस्थैर्य्यप्रबावारोग्यसंयुतः । कृतशिल्पश्च७ दक्षश्च प्रज्ञावान् धारणान्वितः ।। २३९.

Endowed with truth, strength, firmness, patience, power, and health; accomplished in arts, skilled, wise, and possessing concentration—

दृढभक्तिरकर्त्ता च वैराणां सचिवो भवेत् । स्मृतिस्तत्परतार्थेषु चित्तज्ञो ज्ञाननिश्चयः ।। २३९.१५ दृढता मन्त्रगुप्तिश्च मन्त्रिसम्पत् प्रकीर्त्तिता । त्रय्यां च दण्डनीत्यां च कुशलः स्यात् पुरोहितः ।। २३९.

A minister should be steadfast in devotion and not the instigator of enmity; mindful in matters concerning that purpose, understanding the mind, and certain in knowledge.

अथर्व्ववेदविहितं कुर्य्याच्छान्तिकपौष्टिकं । साधुतैषाममात्यानां तद्विद्यैः सह बुद्धिमान् ।। २३९.

He should perform rites for appeasement and prosperity as prescribed in the Atharva Veda, together with the ministers who are wise and skilled in those disciplines.

चक्षुष्मत्तां च शिल्पञ्च परीक्षएत गुणद्वयं । स्वजनेभ्यो विजानीयात् कुलं स्थानमवग्रहं ।। २३९.

He should examine the qualities of keen sight and skill, and discern family and position among his own people.

परिकर्म्म्सु दक्षञ्च विज्ञानं धारयिष्णुतां । गुणत्रयं परीक्षेत प्रागल्भ्यं प्रीतितां तथा ।। २३९.

One should examine skill in duties, knowledge, the capacity to retain, the three qualities, boldness, and also affection.

कथायोगेषु बुद्ध्येत वाग्‌मित्वं सत्यवादितां । उत्साहं च प्रभावं च तथा क्लेशसहिष्णुतां ।। २३९.

In conversations, one should discern eloquence, truthfulness in speech, enthusiasm, influence, and endurance of hardship.

धृतिं चैवानुरागं च स्थैर्य्यञ्चापदि लक्ष्येत् । भक्तिं मैत्रीं च शौचं च जानीयाद्व्यवहारतः ।। २३९.

One should observe steadfastness and attachment, as well as stability in adversity; devotion, friendship, and purity are to be known through conduct.

संवासिभ्यो बलं सत्त्वमारोग्यं शीलमेव च । अस्तव्धतामचापल्यं वैराणां चाप्यकार्त्तनं ।। २३९.

From those who live together, one should know strength, character, health, good conduct, absence of stubbornness, restraint, and lack of enmity.