Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 49
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
ग्लहे शतिकवृद्धेस्तु सभिकः पञ्चकं गतं गृह्णीयाद्धूर्तकितवादितराद्दशकं शतं
glahe śatikavṛddhestu sabhikaḥ pañcakaṃ gataṃ gṛhṇīyāddhūrtakitavāditarāddaśakaṃ śataṃ
যেখানে পণ শতকে শতকে বৃদ্ধি পায়, সেখানে সভিক (জুয়া-গৃহের কর্মকর্তা) পাঁচ (একক) ফি নেবে। কিন্তু ধূর্ত, কিতব (প্রতারক জুয়াড়ি) প্রভৃতি থেকে একশো দশ জরিমানা আদায় করবে।
Lord Agni (in instruction on rajadharma/vyavahara, addressed to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Regulating gambling houses: set official fee/commission for lawful wagers and impose heavy fines on cheating and unlawful gambling behavior.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gaming-hall fees and fines for cheating gamblers","lookup_keywords":["glaha","sabhika","kaitava","dhūrta","daṇḍa","śata-daśa"],"quick_summary":"The gaming-hall officer takes a small fixed fee from certain wagers, but cheating and unlawful play attract a steep punitive fine, discouraging fraud and disorder."}
Concept: Daṇḍanīti: measured state regulation—permit controlled activity with fees, punish deceit severely.
Application: License and monitor gambling venues; define transparent house fees; criminalize cheating with high fines to protect participants and public order.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Legal Procedure; Gambling and Fines)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: City/Market
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a gaming hall: gamblers place stakes; the sabhika collects a small fee; a cheat is exposed and fined heavily by officials.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior sabhā with dice board, expressive gestures, officer collecting coins, cheat being seized, strong outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented hall with gold detailing, dice and coin heaps, sabhika seated with ledger, punitive scene with guards, symmetrical composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clear administrative depiction: fee collection vs fine assessment shown with separate coin piles labeled, refined linework and soft tones","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, lively gambling scene with detailed carpets and costumes, moment of cheating revealed, official recording fine, nuanced facial expressions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शतिकवृद्धेस्तु = शतिकवृद्धेः + तु; गृह्णीयाद्धूर्त... = गृह्णीयात् + धूर्त... (त् + ध → द्ध); कितवादितरात् = कितव + इतरात्; इतराद्दशकम् = इतरात् + दशकम् (त् + द → द्द).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (glaha, fines, sabhā administration)
FAQs
It gives a practical legal rule for regulating gambling: the sabhika collects a fixed hall-fee in high-stake wagers, and imposes a heavier monetary penalty on cheats and related offenders.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves rajadharma and vyavahara norms—administrative fees, fines, and enforcement—showing it functions as a compendium of governance and civil law alongside ritual and spiritual topics.
By prescribing deterrent fines and orderly oversight, the text frames social regulation as dharmic governance—reducing deceit and harm (adharma) and supporting ethical conduct that yields better karmic outcomes for the community.