Agni Purana

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.

प्रत्यक्षतो विजानीयाद भद्रतां क्षुद्रतामपि । फलानुमेयाः सर्वत्र परोक्षगुणवृत्तयः ।। २३९.

Directly, one should discern both nobility and baseness; everywhere, hidden qualities and actions are to be inferred from their results.

शस्याकरवती पुण्या खनिद्रव्यसमन्विता । गोहिता भूरिसलिला पुन्यैर्जनपदैर्युता ।। २३९.

A land is praised that is fertile, virtuous, rich in minerals, beneficial to cows, abundant in water, and joined with virtuous people.

रम्या सकुञ्जरबला वारिस्थलपथान्विता । अदेवमातृका चेति शस्यते भूरिभूतये ।। २३९.

A delightful land, strong with elephants, possessing water, roads, and boats, and not belonging to others, is said to be fit for great prosperity.

शूद्रकारुवणिक्‌प्रायो महारम्भः कृषीबलः । सानुरागो रिपुद्वेषी पीड़ासहकरः पृथुः ।। २३९.

Where laborers, artisans, and merchants abound, where there is great enterprise and agricultural strength, where there is affection, enmity toward foes, endurance of hardships, and abundance.

नानादेश्यैः समाकीर्णो धार्म्मिकः पशुमान् बली । ईदृक्‌जनपदः शस्तोऽमूर्खव्यसनिनायकः।। २३९.

A region filled with people from various lands, righteous, rich in cattle, strong—such a country is praised, led by one who is neither ignorant nor addicted to vice.

पृथुसीमं महाखातमुच्चप्राकारतोरणं । पुरं समावसेच्छैलसरिन्मरुवनाश्रयं ।। २३९.

A city should be established with broad boundaries, great moats, high ramparts and gates, and situated near mountains, rivers, and forests.

जलवद्धान्यधनवद्‌दुर्गं कालसहं महत् । औदकं पार्वतं वार्क्षमैरिणं धन्विनं च षट् ।। २३९.

A fortress should have water, grain, and wealth, be able to withstand time, and be of six types: aquatic, mountainous, wooded, sandy, marshy, and forested.

ईप्सितद्रव्यसम्पूर्णः पितृपैताम्होचितः । धर्मार्जितो व्ययसहः कोषो धर्मादिवृद्धये ।। २३९.

A treasury, filled with desired wealth, inherited from ancestors, acquired righteously, able to endure expenditure, grows through righteousness and other virtues.

पितृपैतामहो वश्यः संहतो दत्तवेतनः । विख्यातपौरुषो जन्यः कुशलः शकुनैर्वृतः ।। २३९.

One who is obedient to ancestors, united, paid wages, renowned for valor, born of good lineage, skilled, and accompanied by auspicious omens.

नानाप्रहरणोपेतो नानायुद्धविशारदः । नानायोधसमाकीर्णो नीराजितहयद्विपः ।। २३९.

Endowed with various weapons, skilled in many kinds of warfare, surrounded by diverse warriors, and honored with horses and elephants.

प्रवासायासदुःखेषु युद्धेषु च कृतश्रमः । अद्वैधक्षत्रियपयो दण्डो दण्डवतां मतः ।। २३९.

Having endured hardships in travel and battle, the punishment of warriors is considered just when it is impartial.

योगविज्ञानसत्त्वाढ्यं महापक्षं प्रियम्बदं । आयतिक्षममद्वैधं मित्रं कुर्वीत सत्कुल ।। २३९.

One should make a friend from a good family who is rich in knowledge of yoga, strong in spirit, of great support, speaks kindly, patient, steadfast, and unwavering.

दूरादेवाभिगमनं स्पष्टार्थहृदयानुगा । वाक्‌ सत्कृत्य प्रदानञ्च त्रिविधो मित्रसङ्ग्रहः ।। २३९.

Friendship is gathered in three ways: by approaching from afar, by speech that follows clear meaning and heart, and by giving with respect.

धर्मकामार्थसंयोगो मित्रात्तु त्रिविधं फलं । औरसं तत्र सन्नद्धं१६ तथा वंशक्रमागतं ।। २३९.

From friendship, three kinds of fruits arise: relating to righteousness, desire, and wealth; among these, the natural bond, the firm one, and that which comes by lineage.

रक्षइतं व्ससनेभ्यश्च मित्रं ज्ञेयं चतुर्विधं । मित्रे गुणाः सत्यताद्याः समानसुखदुःखता ।। २३९.

One should know that a friend is of four kinds and protects from dangers; in a friend, virtues such as truthfulness and sharing in both happiness and sorrow are found.

वक्ष्येऽनुजीविनां वृत्तं सेवी सेवेत भूपतिं । दक्षता भद्रता दार्ढ्य क्षान्तिः क्लेशसहिष्णुता ।। २३९.

I will describe the conduct of dependents: a servant should serve the king; skill, good character, firmness, patience, and endurance of hardship are required.

सन्तोषः शीलभुत्साहो मण्डयत्यनुजीविनं । यथाकालमुपासीत राजानं सेवको नयात् ।। २३९.

Contentment, good conduct, and enthusiasm adorn a dependent; a servant should attend upon the king at the proper time, following the rules of policy.

परस्थानगमं क्रौर्य्यमौद्धत्यं मत्सरन्त्यजेत् । विगृह्य कथनं भृत्यो न कुर्य्याज् ज्यायसा सह ।। २३९.

A servant should abandon going to others, cruelty, arrogance, and envy; he should not engage in disputes or arguments with his superior.

गुह्यं मर्म्म च मन्त्रञ्च न च भर्त्तुः प्रकाशयेत् । रक्ताद् वृत्तिं समीहेत् विरक्तं सन्त्यजेन्नृपं ।। २३९.

He should not reveal the king's secrets, weaknesses, or counsel; he should seek his livelihood from a king who favors him, and abandon one who is indifferent.

आजीव्यः सर्व्वसत्त्वानां राजा पर्जन्यवद्भवेत् । आयद्वारेषु चाप्त्यर्थं धनं चाददतीति च ।। २३९.

The king should be a sustainer of all beings, like a raincloud; he may collect wealth through proper channels for the sake of accomplishment.