Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 8
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
अविद्यमाने सर्वस्वं वेदविद्भ्यो निवेदयेत् पादमेकञ्चरेद्रोधे द्वौ पादौ बन्धने चरेत्
avidyamāne sarvasvaṃ vedavidbhyo nivedayet pādamekañcaredrodhe dvau pādau bandhane caret
إذا لم يوجد (سبيلٌ آخر للتعويض)، فعلى المرء أن يسلّم جميع ممتلكاته لعارفي الفيدا. ولِفعلِ عرقلةِ حركةِ الغير أو نشاطه تكون العقوبة ربعًا؛ وللاحتجاز/السجن تكون العقوبة ربعين (أي نصفًا).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for restitution and graded penalties: surrender of property to Veda-knowers when no other restitution is possible; fine-scale for obstruction and detention.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Restitution by sarvasva-nivedana and fines for obstruction/detention","lookup_keywords":["sarvasva-nivedana","veda-vid","rodha","bandhana","daṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"When restitution cannot otherwise be made, one may surrender all property to learned Vedic authorities; obstruction incurs a quarter-penalty, detention a half-penalty."}
Concept: Proportional justice (daṇḍa) and ethical restitution; wealth is subordinated to dharma and social repair.
Application: Apply graded penalties matching harm; when compensation is impossible, surrender assets to legitimate custodians of dharma/learning.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law, fines, punishments, and social conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A legal setting where an offender offers his entire property to Veda-knowers; a judge or council indicates fractional penalties for obstruction and detention.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style courtroom scene: seated learned brāhmaṇas with palm-leaf manuscripts, an offender presenting a bundle of wealth, a scribe marking quarter and half penalties with symbolic measures, subdued dignified palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents: central dais with dharma-assembly, offender offering property, stylized scales of justice showing 1/4 and 1/2, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: two vignettes labeled rodha (obstruction) and bandhana (detention), each with fractional fine markers; fine linework and clear gestures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature court scene with detailed textiles and architecture, qazi-like judge analog in Indian setting, offender surrendering goods, marginal notes indicating quarter and half penalties"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदविद्भ्यो = वेदविद् + भ्यः; पादमेकम् = पादम् + एकम्; एकञ्चरेत् = एकम् + चरेत्; चरेद्रोधे = चरेत् + रोधे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana rājadharma/vyavahāra chapters on daṇḍa gradations; Agni Purana sections on brāhmaṇa-adhikāra and dāna
FAQs
It gives a technical rule of danda-niti: graded monetary penalties—one-fourth for obstruction (rodha) and one-half for detention (bandhana), and in default of other settlement, forfeiture of one’s whole property as restitution/atonement to Vedic authorities.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical jurisprudence: proportional fines, categories of offenses, and default restitution—showing its coverage of governance and legal administration alongside spiritual topics.
By prescribing restitution and surrender of wealth to learned custodians of dharma, the verse frames legal redress as moral purification—reducing harm caused to others and restoring social order (dharma).