Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 33
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
दत्वा कन्यां हरन् दण्ड्यो व्ययं दद्याच्च सोदयम् मृतायां दत्तमादद्यात् परिशोध्योभयव्ययम्
datvā kanyāṃ haran daṇḍyo vyayaṃ dadyācca sodayam mṛtāyāṃ dattamādadyāt pariśodhyobhayavyayam
কন্যাক বিবাহত দান কৰাৰ পিছত যদি কোনোবাই তাক পুনৰ হৰণ কৰে, তেন্তে সি দণ্ডযোগ্য; আৰু ব্যয় সুদসহ দিব লাগিব। কন্যা মৃত্যু বৰণ কৰিলে দিয়া বিবাহ-উপহাৰ উভতাই ল’ব পাৰি; আৰু দুয়োপক্ষৰ ব্যয় পৰিশোধ কৰিব লাগিব।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purāṇa’s rajadharma/vyavahāra discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Civil/criminal rule for wrongful taking back of a married maiden; assessment of danda (penalty), restitution of expenses with interest, and return of marriage-gift if the maiden has died.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Penalty for carrying off a given maiden; restitution of expenses and return of gift","lookup_keywords":["kanyāharaṇa","danda","vivāha vyaya","sodaya","dattam ādāna"],"quick_summary":"A person who re-seizes a maiden after giving her in marriage is punishable and must reimburse wedding expenses with interest. If she has died, the marriage-gift may be reclaimed, and both sides’ expenses must be settled."}
Concept: Adharma in marriage transactions is corrected through danda (punishment) and ṛṇa-śodhana (restitution with interest).
Application: Guidance for judges/arbitrators to compute compensation and deter coercive marital disputes.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra—civil and criminal law; marriage and property disputes)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where an offender is fined for abducting/taking back a bride; scribes calculate expenses and interest; gifts and ledgers are displayed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rāja in sabhā with attendants, accused standing with folded hands, accountants with palm-leaf ledgers, wedding gifts shown as bundles, strong narrative gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style court of justice, gold work on throne and ornaments, visible coin piles and gift trays, scribe writing restitution order, frontal iconic arrangement.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of legal procedure: judge, parties, written order, expense items labeled, refined lines and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtroom with registers, interest calculation scene, attendants holding gift items, expressive but restrained faces, architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दद्याच्च → दद्यात् च; सोदयम् → स-उदयम्; दत्तमादद्यात् → दत्तम् आदद्यात्; परिशोध्योभयव्ययम् → परिशोध्यः उभय-व्ययम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (vyavahāra rules on marriage disputes and penalties)
FAQs
It gives a vyavahāra (legal) rule: abducting/taking away a maiden after she has been duly given in marriage entails punishment and restitution—payment of incurred expenses, even with interest; if she has died, recovery of the given gift is allowed and both parties’ expenses must be settled.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves dharmaśāstra-style governance material—marriage disputes, fines, interest, and restitution—showing it functions as a compendium of practical law and statecraft alongside spiritual teaching.
By prescribing punishment and restitution for violating a lawful marriage arrangement, the verse frames social order (dharma) as morally binding; repairing harm through compensation is treated as a necessary act of rectification to reduce wrongdoing and its karmic consequences.