Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 38
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
गणद्रव्यं हरेद्यस्तु संविदं लङ्घयेच्च यः सर्वस्वहरणं कृत्वा तं राष्ट्राद्विप्रवासयेत्
gaṇadravyaṃ haredyastu saṃvidaṃ laṅghayecca yaḥ sarvasvaharaṇaṃ kṛtvā taṃ rāṣṭrādvipravāsayet
مَن سرق مالَ الجماعة/النقابة (gaṇa)، ومَن نقض العهدَ أو العقد—فبعد مصادرة جميع أمواله—يجب على الملك أن ينفيه خارج المملكة.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Rajadharma discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Criminal justice: protect guild/community property and contract sanctity; impose confiscation and banishment for theft of corporate assets or breach of covenant to deter economic sabotage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Penalty for stealing guild property and violating agreements: confiscation and exile","lookup_keywords":["gana-dravya","theft","samvida","contract breach","banishment"],"quick_summary":"Stealing corporate/community property or breaking a contract is treated as a grave offense. The king should confiscate all property and expel the offender from the realm to protect trust and commerce."}
Concept: Danda as protector of dharma: harsh penalties are justified to preserve social trust and collective welfare.
Application: Modern analogue: strong enforcement against embezzlement of cooperative/public funds and against willful contract fraud.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Governance, law, and criminal justice)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guild hall with stored goods; an offender is brought before the king; scribes list confiscated items; guards escort the condemned beyond the city gate into exile.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic court scene with bold reds; king stern, guards holding the offender; piles of confiscated goods; city gate and road to forest at edge; strong outlines and lamp motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: king seated with gold embellishment; confiscated wealth depicted as stacked coins and goods with gold highlights; offender led away; ornate border emphasizing royal authority.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear narrative panels—(1) theft from guild store, (2) judgment with confiscation list, (3) banishment at city gate; fine linework, muted colors, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: bustling bazaar/guild warehouse; court officials inventory goods; offender escorted by soldiers; detailed architecture and textiles, realistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: haredyastu → haret yaḥ tu; laṅghayecca → laṅghayet ca; rāṣṭrādvipravāsayet → rāṣṭrāt vipravāsayet.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vyavahara/danda sections on theft, fines, and exile (contextual)
FAQs
It teaches rāja-nīti/nyāya procedure: offences like stealing guild property and breaching contracts merit state punishment—confiscation of the offender’s entire estate followed by exile.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharmaśāstra-style governance: protection of collective (guild) assets, enforceability of contracts, and graded criminal sanctions (property seizure and banishment).
It frames theft and breach of trust as adharma that harms social order; the king’s punishment functions as both deterrence and a means to restore dharma by removing the offender and neutralizing ill-gotten wealth.