Agni Purana

प्रगल्भः स्मृतिमान्वाग्मी शस्त्रे शास्त्रे च निष्ठितः । अब्यस्तकर्म्मां नृपतेर्दूतो भवितुमर्हति ।। २४१.

One who is bold, remembers well, is eloquent, and skilled in weapons and scriptures—such a person, not neglectful in duties, is fit to be the king's messenger.

सामर्थ्यात् पादतो हीनो दूतस्तु त्रिविधः स्मृतः ।। २४१.

A messenger is considered to be of three kinds, according to his capacity and whether he is lacking in any aspect.

नाविज्ञातं पुरं शत्रोः प्रविशेच्च न शंसदं। कालमीक्षेत कार्य्यार्थमनुज्ञातश्च निष्पतेत् ।। २४१.

One should not enter an enemy's city without reconnaissance, nor approach an informer; the proper time should be observed for the task, and departure should be made only with permission.

छिद्रञ्च शत्रोर्जानीयात् कोषमित्रबलानि च । रागापरागौ जानीयाद् दृष्टिगात्रविचेष्टितैः ।। २४१.

He should ascertain the enemy's weaknesses, treasury, allies, and forces; attachment and aversion should be discerned by observing the eyes, body, and gestures.

कुर्य्याच्चतुर्विधं स्तोत्रं पक्षयोरुभयोरपि । तपस्विव्यञ्जनोपेतैः सुचरैः सह संवसेत् ।। २४१.

He should compose four kinds of reports regarding both sides, and dwell with trustworthy ascetics who display appropriate signs.

चरः प्रकाशो दूतः स्यादप्र्काशश्चरो द्विधा । बणिक् कृषीबलो लिङ्गी बिक्षुकाद्यात्मकाश्चराः ।। २४१.

A spy is overt or covert; the covert spy is of two types: merchant, farmer, laborer, ascetic, beggar, and others serve as spies.

यायादरिं व्यसनिनं निष्फले दूतचेष्टिते । प्रकृतिव्यसनं यत्स्यात्तत् समीक्ष्य समुत्पतेत् ।। २४१.

He should approach an enemy afflicted by misfortune, when the efforts of messengers have failed; having observed the natural calamity, he should act accordingly.

अनयाद्व्यस्यति श्रेयस्तस्मात्तद्व्यसनं स्मृतं । हुताशनो जलं व्याधिर्दुर्भिक्षं मरकं तथा ।। २४१.

That which brings about destruction is called misfortune: fire, water, disease, famine, and plague.

इति पञ्चविधं दैवं व्यसनं मानुषं परं। दैवं पुरुषकारेण शान्त्या च प्रशमन्नयेत् ।। २४१.

Thus, five kinds of calamities are recognized: divine and human; divine calamity is pacified through human effort and appeasement.

उत्थापितेन नीत्या च मानुषं व्यसनं हरेत् । मन्त्रो मन्त्रफलावाप्तिः कार्य्यानुष्ठानमायतिः ।। २४१.

Human misfortune is removed by policy and action; counsel, attainment of the fruits of counsel, and proper execution of tasks are essential.

आयव्ययौ दण्डनीतिरमित्रप्रतितषेधनं । व्यसनस्य प्रतीकारो राज्यराजाभिरक्षणं ।। २४१.

Revenue and expenditure, administration of justice, restraining enemies and rivals—these are the remedies for misfortune and the protection of the kingdom and the king.

इत्यमात्यस्य कर्म्मदं इन्ति सव्यसनान्वितः । हिरण्यधान्यवस्त्राणि वाहनं प्रजया भवेत् ।। २४१.

Thus, the duties of a minister are described, even when beset by calamities; he should possess gold, grain, garments, vehicles, and offspring.

तथान्ये द्रव्यनिचया हन्ति सव्यसना प्रजा । प्र्जानामापदिस्थानां रक्षणं कोषदण्डयोः ।। २४१.

Likewise, other accumulations of wealth are destroyed by calamities; the protection of subjects in distress depends on treasury and punishment.

पौराद्याश्चोपकुर्वन्ति संश्रयादिह दुर्द्दिनं । तूष्णीं युद्धं जनत्राणं मित्रामित्रपरिग्रहः ।। २४१.

Citizens and others assist in times of hardship by providing shelter; silent warfare, protection of the people, and discerning friends and enemies are necessary.

सामन्तादि कृते दोषे नश्येत्तद्व्यसनाच्च तत् । भृत्यानां भरणं दानं प्र्जामित्रपरिग्रहः ।। २४१.

If a frontier chief commits an offense, he perishes due to that calamity; maintaining servants, giving gifts, and discerning friends among the people are essential.

धर्म्मकामादिभेदश्च दुर्गसंस्कारभूषणं । कोषात्तद्व्यसनाद्धन्ति कोषमूलो हि भूपतिः ।। २४१.

Distinctions of righteousness, desire, and the like, and the fortification of strongholds—these are destroyed by loss of treasury, for the king is rooted in the treasury.

मित्रामित्रावनीहेमसाधनं रिपुमर्द्दनं । दूरकार्य्याशुकारित्वं दण्डात्तद्व्यसनाद्धरेत् ।। २४१.

The means for dealing with friends and enemies, wealth, and the destruction of foes, as well as the ability to accomplish distant tasks swiftly, are all lost through the calamity of punishment.

संस्तम्भयति मित्राणि अमित्रं नाशयत्यपि । धनाद्यैरुपकारित्वं मित्रात्तद्व्यसनाद्धरेत् ।। २४१.

It strengthens friends and destroys enemies; the benefit of wealth and other resources is lost through the calamity of friends.

राजाच सव्यसनी हन्याद्राजकार्य्याणि यानि च । वाग्दण्डयोश्च पारुष्यमर्थदूषणमेव च ।। २४१.

A king afflicted by calamity destroys royal undertakings; harshness in speech and punishment, and the corruption of wealth, also result.

पानं स्त्री मृगया द्यूतं व्यसनानि महीपतेः । आलस्यं स्तब्धता दर्पः प्रमादो द्वैधकारिता ।। २४१.

Drinking, women, hunting, gambling—these are the king’s great vices; also, laziness, stubbornness, arrogance, recklessness, and fostering division.

इति पूर्व्वेपदिष्टञ्च सचिवव्यसनं स्मृतं । अनावृष्टिश्च पीडादी राष्ट्रव्यसनमुच्यते ।। २४१.

Thus, what has been previously described is known as the minister’s vice; drought and oppression are called calamities of the kingdom.

विशीर्णयन्त्रप्राकारपरिखात्वमशस्त्रता । क्षीणया सेनया नद्धं दुर्गव्यसनमुच्यते ।। २४१.

A fortress with broken machinery, walls, and moats, lacking weapons, and with a depleted army—this is called a calamity of the stronghold.

व्ययीकृतः परिक्षिप्तोऽप्रजितोऽसञ्चितस्तथा । दषितो दरसंस्थश्च कोषव्यसनमुच्यते ।। २४१.

When the treasury is spent, besieged, unconquered, not accumulated, plundered, or held by enemies—this is called a calamity of the treasury.

उपरुद्धं परिक्षिप्तोऽप्तममानितविमानितं । अभूतं व्याधितं श्रान्तं दूरायातन्नवागतं ।। २४१.

When the army is blockaded, surrounded, not honored by allies, insulted, non-existent, diseased, exhausted, coming from afar, or newly arrived—

परिक्षीणं प्रतिहतं प्रहताग्रतरन्तथा । आशानिर्वेदभूयिष्ठमनृतप्राप्तमेव च ।। २४१.

When it is diminished, repulsed, its vanguard struck, overwhelmed by despair, filled with hopelessness, or falsely reported—

कलत्रगर्भन्निक्षिप्तमन्तःशल्पं तथैव च । विच्छिन्नवीवधासारं शून्यमूलं तथैव च ।। २४१.

When it is scattered by women and children, engaged in internal quarrels, divided by disputes, or has lost its foundation—

अस्वाम्यसंहतं वापि भिन्नकूटं तथैव च । दुष्पार्ष्णिग्राहमर्थञ्च बलव्यसनमुच्यते ।। २४१.

When it lacks a master, is disunited, has broken ranks, is difficult to control, or is seized for another’s purpose—this is called a calamity of the army.

दैवोपपीडितं मित्रं ग्रस्तं शत्रुवलेन च । कामकोधादिसंयुक्तमुत्साहादरिभिर्भवेत् ।। २४१.

A friend afflicted by fate, seized by the enemy’s power, overcome by desire, anger, or similar faults, or discouraged by adversaries—

अर्थस्य दूषणं क्रोधात् पारुष्यं वाक्यदण्डयोः । कामजं मृगया द्यूतं व्यसनं पानकं स्त्रियः ।। २४१.

The corruption of wealth through anger, harshness in words or punishment, hunting and gambling born of desire, drinking, and women—these are vices.