Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 11
Divya-pramāṇa-kathana
Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure
गुणिद्वैधे तु वचनं ग्राह्यं ये गुणवत्तराः यस्योचुः साक्षिणः सत्यां प्रतिज्ञां स जयी भवेत्
guṇidvaidhe tu vacanaṃ grāhyaṃ ye guṇavattarāḥ yasyocuḥ sākṣiṇaḥ satyāṃ pratijñāṃ sa jayī bhavet
Wenn Zweifel an der jeweiligen Glaubwürdigkeit (Qualität) der Parteien besteht, ist die Aussage derer anzunehmen, die über höhere Qualifikationen verfügen. Derjenige, für den die Zeugen eine wahre Behauptung (oder ein Gelöbnis) bezeugen, wird im Rechtsstreit siegreich.
Lord Agni (teaching juridical dharma to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Evidence evaluation: when credibility is disputed, accept the testimony of those with superior qualifications; the party supported by truthful witnesses prevails.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Credibility hierarchy and victory by truthful witness support","lookup_keywords":["गुण-द्वैध","गुणवत्तर","सत्य-प्रतिज्ञा","साक्षि-वचन","जयी"],"quick_summary":"If credibility is contested, prefer the statement of the more qualified; the litigant whose claim is affirmed as true by witnesses wins the case."}
Concept: Pramāṇa in vyavahāra: testimony is weighted by guṇa (competence/character); satya-pratijñā validated by witnesses yields rightful victory.
Application: Create a credibility rubric (competence, impartiality, consistency) and document witness affirmations to reach a defensible verdict.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra—Judicial Procedure and Evidence)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formal verdict scene: respected, qualified witnesses speak; the judge signals victory to the party whose truthful pledge is confirmed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dignified witnesses with calm faces and sacred marks, judge-king gesturing toward the winning party, orderly court pillars, restrained drama, emphasis on dharma","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on throne and verdict scroll, witnesses in front with raised right hand (oath gesture), winning party receiving a garland/document, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear procedural illustration: qualified witnesses highlighted by posture and attire, judge indicating acceptance, minimal background clutter, fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined court interior, witnesses presenting testimony, judge issuing verdict, winning litigant acknowledged, intricate textiles and architectural niches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: guṇi-dvaidhe (compound); yasyocuḥ→yasya ūcuḥ; satyāṃ pratijñām (agreement).
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on saksin-lakshana (qualities of witnesses) and vyavahara-pramana (means of proof)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (judicial practice): when credibility is disputed, the court should accept testimony from the more qualified/credible side, and a party supported by truthful witnesses wins the case.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and legal norms—here, rules for evaluating witness credibility and deciding litigation—showing its wide coverage of governance and civil jurisprudence.
It upholds satya (truth) as a dharmic foundation: truthful witness and honest assertion are aligned with righteousness, while false testimony is implicitly condemned as adharma with harmful karmic consequences.