Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 10
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
तावुभौ चौरवच्छास्यौ दण्ड्यौ वा द्विगुणं दम अज्ञानाद्यः पुमान् कुर्यात् परद्रव्यस्य विक्रयं
tāvubhau cauravacchāsyau daṇḍyau vā dviguṇaṃ dama ajñānādyaḥ pumān kuryāt paradravyasya vikrayaṃ
উভয়েই চোরের ন্যায় দণ্ডনীয়, অথবা সংশ্লিষ্ট মূল্যের দ্বিগুণ জরিমানা দিতে হবে। যে ব্যক্তি অজ্ঞতাবশত অন্যের সম্পত্তি বিক্রি করে, সেও তদ্রূপ দণ্ডের ভাগী।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Fraud/theft adjudication: treating deposit-destruction and false claims as theft-like offenses; penalizing unauthorized sale of another’s property, even if pleaded as ignorance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Theft-equivalent punishment for deposit fraud; penalty for selling another’s property","lookup_keywords":["chora","dviguṇa-daṇḍa","paradravya-vikraya","ajñāna","vyavahāra"],"quick_summary":"Certain deposit-related wrongs are punished like theft, or by a double-value fine. Selling another’s property—even if claimed to be from ignorance—incurs liability under these rules."}
Concept: Property rights and trust are protected by treating certain frauds as theft; ignorance does not automatically absolve harm in transactional wrongs.
Application: In disputes over unauthorized sale, assess ownership and intent; impose theft-grade punishment or double-value fine to restore order and deter repetition.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Vyavahāra (Governance, Law, and Judicial Procedure)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marketplace dispute brought to court: a man has sold another’s property; the true owner protests; the judge orders theft-like punishment or double fine; scribes compute the doubled value.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, market scene with goods and a sale gesture, then a court vignette with the king/judge, a ledger showing doubled amount, strong narrative panels, bold colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central judge with gold arch, merchant and owner on either side, a displayed item (property) between them, gold accents on scales and coin stacks, formal symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of valuation and doubling, scribe writing, calm but firm judge, detailed textiles and subtle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling bazaar with transaction, then a refined court interior, expressive faces, precise objects (goods, coins), delicate border work"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तावुभौ → तौ + उभौ; चौरवच्छास्यौ → चौरवत् + शास्यौ; अज्ञानाद्यः → अज्ञानात् + यः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (theft, fines, deposits, contracts)
FAQs
This verse teaches vyavahāra-vidyā (juridical procedure): the rule that unauthorized sale of another’s property is treated as theft and punished either as a thief or by a double fine.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a dharma-and-governance manual alongside its ritual and theological material, preserving practical civil-law norms on property offences and state-imposed penalties.
Appropriating or disposing of another’s property is adharma; even when done “in ignorance,” it carries culpability and requires rectification through punishment/restitution, reinforcing accountability and social order (dharma).