Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 13
Chapter 253 — व्यवहारकथनम्
The Account of Legal Procedure
दर्शने प्रत्यये दाने प्रतिभाव्यं विधीयते आधौ तु वितथे दाप्या वितथस्य सुता अपि
darśane pratyaye dāne pratibhāvyaṃ vidhīyate ādhau tu vitathe dāpyā vitathasya sutā api
في أمور الحضور (أمام المحكمة)، وإقامة البيّنة، والإعطاء/النقل، تُشرَعُ إقامةُ كفيلٍ. ولكن إن تبيّن من البدء أن الكفيل كاذبٌ أو مُخِلٌّ (فشل في الوفاء)، فحتى ابنةُ ذلك الكفيل الكاذب تُلزَمُ بالدفع (أي تلزم عائلته بالتبعة).
Lord Agni (instructional narration of legal/dharma material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Defines where surety is required (court appearance, proof, transfers) and establishes consequences for default/false surety, extending liability to the surety’s family.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pratibhū-vidhāna (Surety for appearance, proof, and transfer; liability on failure)","lookup_keywords":["darśana","pratyaya","dāna","pratibhū","vitatha"],"quick_summary":"Surety is prescribed for court appearance, evidentiary assurance, and transfers; if the surety fails from the outset, liability can extend even to his daughter (family responsibility for default)."}
Concept: Social enforcement of truth in legal processes: surety as moral-legal guarantor; deterrence through extended liability.
Application: Use sureties to secure compliance (appearance/proof/transfer); penalize defaulting sureties to prevent frivolous guarantees.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra—Judicial procedure, surety and proof)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a courtroom, a surety is appointed for a litigant’s appearance/proof/transfer; later the surety defaults, and the judge orders recovery from the surety’s household, with the daughter shown as inheriting liability.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-scene narrative: first, surety placing hand in pledge before judge; second, default scene with judge pointing to surety’s home where daughter stands with household ledger, emphasizing consequence and dharma","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold, pledge scene before ornate throne; second vignette shows enforcement officers at surety’s house, daughter presented with accounts; strong moral symbolism","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional split panel: ‘darśana/pratyaya/dāna’ labeled near pledge; ‘vitatha’ labeled near default; clear depiction of liability transfer to family, calm but firm judicial posture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court and domestic interior; surety signing/sealing bond; later, officials collecting from surety’s estate, daughter handing over coins/documents; rich textiles and precise expressions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Darbari","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major sandhi beyond standard euphony; sense: ‘In cases of appearance, assurance, and payment, surety is prescribed; but if (the surety) is false, even the children of the false one are to be made to pay.’
Related Themes: Agni Purana 253.12 (pratibhā and recovery in joint contexts)
FAQs
It teaches vyavahāra-vidyā (legal procedure): when suretyship is required for court appearance, proof, and transfers, and how liability is enforced if the surety fails.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves Dharmaśāstra-style civil and judicial rules—here, the mechanics of proof, guarantees, and compensation—showing its coverage of governance and law.
By enforcing truthful surety and reliable proof, it upholds satya (truth) and dharma in social dealings; violating these duties is treated as a serious moral breach with tangible restitution.