Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 50
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
स सम्यक्पालितो दद्याद्राज्ञे भागं यथाकृतं जितमुद्ग्राहयेज्जेत्रे दद्यात्सत्यं वचः क्षमी
sa samyakpālito dadyādrājñe bhāgaṃ yathākṛtaṃ jitamudgrāhayejjetre dadyātsatyaṃ vacaḥ kṣamī
إذا حُفِظ حفظًا صحيحًا (من قِبَل الملك) فعليه أن يدفع للملك نصيبه المستحق بحسب المقرر. وتُجبى المستحقات من المغلوب لصالح الغالب؛ وعليه أن ينطق بالصدق وأن يكون حليمًا صبورًا.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Principles of taxation and governance: subjects pay the king’s due share when protected; victors collect conquered dues; rulers/officials should be truthful and forbearing in administration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Protected subjects’ royal share; collection of dues; truth and forbearance in rule","lookup_keywords":["rāja-bhāga","pālana","udgrāha","jetr̥","satya-vacana","kṣamā"],"quick_summary":"Legitimate taxation rests on proper protection. Revenue collection (including from conquest) should be executed with truthfulness and patience, aligning fiscal power with ethical restraint."}
Concept: Reciprocity of rule: protection (pālana) warrants taxation (bhāga); ethical governance requires satya and kṣamā.
Application: Link taxes to demonstrable public goods (security, justice); in revenue enforcement, prioritize truthful records, due process, and restraint to prevent oppression.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Law, and Duties of Ruler & Subjects)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in court receiving lawful revenue from protected subjects; a victorious ruler’s officers collect dues in a newly subdued region; the king is shown speaking truthfully and showing forbearance in judgment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, raja on throne with attendants, subjects offering measured tribute, separate panel of frontier collection by officials, emphasis on dharmic posture and calm expression","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, king with gold-embellished throne and arch, orderly tax offering with coin trays, halo-like aureole, depiction of kṣamā through gentle hand gesture, rich gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, administrative clarity: ledger, seal, measured grain/coins as bhāga, king instructing truthfulness, subdued palette and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, durbar scene with revenue presentation, scribes recording, second vignette of post-conquest assessment, refined architecture and textiles, naturalistic faces"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सम्यक्पालितो = सम्यक् + पालितः; दद्याद्राज्ञे = दद्यात् + राज्ञे (त् + र → द्र); जितमुद्ग्राहयेत् = जितम् + उद्ग्राहयेत्; उद्ग्राहयेज्जेत्रे = उद्ग्राहयेत् + जेत्रे (त् + ज → ज्ज); दद्यात्सत्यं = दद्यात् + सत्यम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (rājadharma: protection, taxation, conduct of ruler)
FAQs
It imparts rajadharma guidance: a protected subject must pay the king’s prescribed revenue share (bhāga), and victors should lawfully collect conquered dues while maintaining truthfulness and forbearance.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual into statecraft—revenue principles, lawful collection, and ethical conduct—integrating practical governance norms with moral discipline.
Paying rightful dues, speaking truth, and practicing kṣamā (forbearance) are presented as dharmic acts that reduce conflict and cultivate merit through righteous social order.