Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 23
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
शतं ब्राह्मणमाक्रुश्य क्षत्रियो दण्डमर्हति वैश्यश् च द्विशतं राम शूद्रश् च बधमर्हति
śataṃ brāhmaṇamākruśya kṣatriyo daṇḍamarhati vaiśyaś ca dviśataṃ rāma śūdraś ca badhamarhati
Wer einen Brāhmaṇa beschimpft, dem gebührt dem Kṣatriya eine Geldbuße von hundert (Paṇa); dem Vaiśya zweihundert—o Rāma; und dem Śūdra gebührt die Todesstrafe.
Lord Agni (instructing Rāma as addressee within the legal/ethical discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for a ruler/judge in fixing graded penalties (paṇa-fines and capital punishment) for verbal abuse across varṇa hierarchy, as part of maintaining public order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Daṇḍa for abusing a Brāhmaṇa (graded by offender varṇa)","lookup_keywords":["brāhmaṇa-ākrośa","daṇḍa","paṇa fine","varṇa","capital punishment"],"quick_summary":"Sets a graded scale of punishment for insulting a brāhmaṇa: kṣatriya 100 paṇas, vaiśya 200 paṇas, śūdra death—presented as a rājadharma rule for deterrence and social order."}
Concept: Daṇḍanīti: proportional punishment as a tool to protect social-religious order and restrain harmful speech.
Application: Use as a normative rule in adjudication texts: classify offence (ākrośa), identify parties’ status, then assign the stated fine/penalty.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Dharmaśāstra (Penal law and social order)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where a judge-king pronounces graded fines and punishment for insulting a brāhmaṇa; scribes record paṇa amounts; the accused stands guarded.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, a crowned king on a simhāsana in sabhā, brāhmaṇa with śikhā and yajñopavīta, guards restraining an offender, palm-leaf scribe, emphasis on dharma-nyāya atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold leaf, ornate court pavilion, king with halo-like prabhāmaṇḍala, brāhmaṇa seated respectfully, inscription-like depiction of '100' and '200' paṇas as symbolic coin stacks, rich textiles","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional court tableau with labeled coin measures (paṇa), calm but authoritative king, clear hierarchy of figures by dress and posture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar scene, accountants with ledgers, coin trays, expressive faces showing fear and sternness, architectural depth, fine borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brāhmaṇam+ākruśya → brāhmaṇamākruśya; daṇḍam+arhati → daṇḍamarhati; vaiśyaḥ+ca → vaiśyaś ca; śūdraḥ+ca → śūdraś ca; badham+arhati → badhamarhati
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (Rājadharma/Vyavahāra: daṇḍa-vidhi sections on sāhasa, insult, and assault)
FAQs
Daṇḍanīti (jurisprudence): it prescribes graded legal penalties for verbally abusing a brāhmaṇa, scaled by varṇa—fines for kṣatriya and vaiśya, and capital punishment for śūdra.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a dharmaśāstra-style manual of governance, detailing concrete criminal penalties (speech offences and fines), alongside its many other domains like ritual, polity, and ethics.
It treats abusive speech toward a brāhmaṇa as a grave adharma with heavy karmic consequence, and frames state punishment (daṇḍa) as a means to restrain sin and preserve dharmic social order.