Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 43
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
पण्यस्योपरि संस्थाप्य व्ययं पण्यसमुद्भवं अर्थो ऽनुग्रहकृत् कार्यः क्रेतुर्विक्रेतुरेव च
paṇyasyopari saṃsthāpya vyayaṃ paṇyasamudbhavaṃ artho 'nugrahakṛt kāryaḥ kreturvikretureva ca
بعد إضافة النفقات الناشئة عن السلعة نفسها إلى ثمنها (كأجور المناولة والنقل وما يتصل بذلك)، ينبغي تثبيت المبلغ النهائي على وجهٍ عادلٍ ومُحسِن، نافعٍ للمشتري والبائع كليهما.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma/vyavahara material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Pricing in trade: compute sale price by adding commodity-linked expenses (carriage, handling, storage, duties) and set a fair margin so neither party is exploited.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyayya-mūlya (Fair Price) with Vyaya Add-on","lookup_keywords":["panya-mulya","vyaya","fair pricing","commerce","buyer-seller equity"],"quick_summary":"Add legitimate, commodity-derived expenses to the base price and fix a final price that is equitable to both buyer and seller; this is a rule for lawful valuation in contracts."}
Concept: Nyāya in vyavahāra: profit is legitimate only when grounded in real costs and mutual non-injury (ahiṃsā in commerce).
Application: Use transparent cost-plus pricing and avoid hidden charges; document expenses in contracts to prevent disputes.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Commerce, Contracts, and Civil Law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marketplace scene where a merchant and buyer calculate a fair price: base commodity price plus listed expenses (transport, handling) recorded on a palm-leaf ledger, overseen by a royal market officer.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style marketplace: merchant weighing goods on a balance, palm-leaf account book showing vyaya additions, calm dharmic mood, earthy reds and ochres, stylized figures, minimal background architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a dharmic bazaar: central merchant and buyer with balance scale and coin pouch, ornate borders, gold-leaf highlights on scales and coins, a small royal insignia indicating lawful trade.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting instructional tableau: clear depiction of cost components written on a scroll (vyaya), merchant pointing to ledger, buyer nodding; fine linework, soft colors, didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a bustling market: detailed textiles and goods, scribe noting expenses, merchant and buyer negotiating fairly, architectural arcade in background, delicate brushwork and patterned carpets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पण्यस्योपरि = पण्यस्य + उपरि; अर्थोऽनुग्रहकृत् = अर्थः + अनुग्रहकृत्; क्रेतुर्विक्रेतुरेव = क्रेतुः + विक्रेतुः + एव
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (Vyavahāra: sales, delivery, defects, fines); Agni Purana sections on rājadharma (market regulation, fines)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of commerce: determine the sale price by adding legitimate commodity-related expenses, and set the price so it remains equitable for both buyer and seller.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance knowledge—here, marketplace regulation and pricing ethics—showing its coverage of civil law (vyavahara) alongside ritual and spiritual topics.
Fair pricing and avoidance of exploitative gain align with dharma; honest trade reduces harmful karma from deception or greed and supports social welfare (loka-saṅgraha).