Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 32
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
अर्धपादकराः कार्या गोगजाश्वोष्ट्रघातकाः वृक्षन्तु विफलं कृत्त्वा सुवर्णं दण्डमर्हति
ardhapādakarāḥ kāryā gogajāśvoṣṭraghātakāḥ vṛkṣantu viphalaṃ kṛttvā suvarṇaṃ daṇḍamarhati
গো, হাতি, ঘোড়া বা উট হত্যাকারীদের অর্ধপাদ কর/দণ্ড দিতে হবে; আর যে ফলবৃক্ষকে নিষ্ফল করে, সে এক সুবর্ণ দণ্ডের যোগ্য।
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Sets monetary penalties for killing valuable animals and for destroying productive trees; applicable to environmental/agrarian regulation, compensation schedules, and protection of royal/communal assets.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Fines for killing livestock and destroying fruit-bearing trees","lookup_keywords":["go-ghata-danda","gaja-ashva-ushtra-ghata","ardha-pada-kara","vriksha-viphala","suvarna-danda"],"quick_summary":"Killing cows/elephants/horses/camels incurs a specified monetary penalty (half a pāda). Rendering a fruit-bearing tree barren is fined at one suvarṇa, highlighting protection of agrarian wealth."}
Concept: Protection of bhūmi-sampad (land wealth) and prajā-hita (public good) through fines; recognition of animals and fruit trees as economic and dharmic assets.
Application: Supports policy for conservation of productive resources (cattle, transport animals, orchards) via deterrent fines and restitution.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Daṇḍanīti (Law, Penalties, and Governance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A rural governance scene: officials assess a fine for killing a cow/horse/elephant/camel; another scene shows a fruit tree deliberately damaged, with a suvarṇa fine imposed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, village landscape with orchard and cattle; royal officer with palm-leaf ledger; offender beside a felled animal; second vignette shows a fruit tree with cut branches; warm earthy palette, stylized flora.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, iconic rural tableau with gold accents: sacred cow and orchard; officer receiving a gold coin (suvarṇa) as penalty; ornate framing, devotional undertone to protecting life and fertility.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional agrarian scene: clear depiction of different animals (go, gaja, aśva, uṣṭra) and a fruiting tree; officials calculating fines; fine linework and calm composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed countryside with orchard rows and animals; revenue officer collecting fines; careful rendering of foliage and animal anatomy; manuscript-like border decorations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gogajāśvoṣṭraghātakāḥ → go + gaja + aśva + uṣṭra + ghātakāḥ; vṛkṣantu → vṛkṣam + tu; daṇḍamarhati → daṇḍam + arhati.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (property offences and fines in daṇḍanīti context)
FAQs
It lays down daṇḍanīti (penal jurisprudence): fixed monetary fines for killing specified animals and a higher fine for rendering a fruit-bearing tree unproductive.
By codifying practical civic law—rates of fines for harms to livestock and orchards—it shows the text’s coverage beyond theology into administration, economics, and public order.
It treats violence against valued beings (animals) and destruction of life-sustaining resources (fruit trees) as morally weighty acts requiring expiation through punishment, reinforcing dharma and social responsibility.