Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 23
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
शतं ब्राह्मणमाक्रुश्य क्षत्रियो दण्डमर्हति वैश्यश् च द्विशतं राम शूद्रश् च बधमर्हति
śataṃ brāhmaṇamākruśya kṣatriyo daṇḍamarhati vaiśyaś ca dviśataṃ rāma śūdraś ca badhamarhati
من أساء إلى براهمنٍ بالسبّ، استحقّ الكشاتريا غرامة مئة (پانا)؛ والفيشيا مئتين—يا راما؛ أمّا الشودرا فيستحقّ عقوبة الإعدام.
Lord Agni (instructing Rāma as addressee within the legal/ethical discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for a ruler/judge in fixing graded penalties (paṇa-fines and capital punishment) for verbal abuse across varṇa hierarchy, as part of maintaining public order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Daṇḍa for abusing a Brāhmaṇa (graded by offender varṇa)","lookup_keywords":["brāhmaṇa-ākrośa","daṇḍa","paṇa fine","varṇa","capital punishment"],"quick_summary":"Sets a graded scale of punishment for insulting a brāhmaṇa: kṣatriya 100 paṇas, vaiśya 200 paṇas, śūdra death—presented as a rājadharma rule for deterrence and social order."}
Concept: Daṇḍanīti: proportional punishment as a tool to protect social-religious order and restrain harmful speech.
Application: Use as a normative rule in adjudication texts: classify offence (ākrośa), identify parties’ status, then assign the stated fine/penalty.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Dharmaśāstra (Penal law and social order)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where a judge-king pronounces graded fines and punishment for insulting a brāhmaṇa; scribes record paṇa amounts; the accused stands guarded.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, a crowned king on a simhāsana in sabhā, brāhmaṇa with śikhā and yajñopavīta, guards restraining an offender, palm-leaf scribe, emphasis on dharma-nyāya atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold leaf, ornate court pavilion, king with halo-like prabhāmaṇḍala, brāhmaṇa seated respectfully, inscription-like depiction of '100' and '200' paṇas as symbolic coin stacks, rich textiles","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional court tableau with labeled coin measures (paṇa), calm but authoritative king, clear hierarchy of figures by dress and posture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar scene, accountants with ledgers, coin trays, expressive faces showing fear and sternness, architectural depth, fine borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brāhmaṇam+ākruśya → brāhmaṇamākruśya; daṇḍam+arhati → daṇḍamarhati; vaiśyaḥ+ca → vaiśyaś ca; śūdraḥ+ca → śūdraś ca; badham+arhati → badhamarhati
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (Rājadharma/Vyavahāra: daṇḍa-vidhi sections on sāhasa, insult, and assault)
FAQs
Daṇḍanīti (jurisprudence): it prescribes graded legal penalties for verbally abusing a brāhmaṇa, scaled by varṇa—fines for kṣatriya and vaiśya, and capital punishment for śūdra.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a dharmaśāstra-style manual of governance, detailing concrete criminal penalties (speech offences and fines), alongside its many other domains like ritual, polity, and ethics.
It treats abusive speech toward a brāhmaṇa as a grave adharma with heavy karmic consequence, and frames state punishment (daṇḍa) as a means to restrain sin and preserve dharmic social order.