Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 31
Divya-pramāṇa-kathana
Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure
सहस्रार्थे तुलादीनि कोषमल्पे ऽपि दापयेत् शतार्धं दापयेच्छुद्धमशुद्धो दण्डभाग् भवेत्
sahasrārthe tulādīni koṣamalpe 'pi dāpayet śatārdhaṃ dāpayecchuddhamaśuddho daṇḍabhāg bhavet
In einem Fall im Wert von tausend soll man den Täter zur Zahlung hinsichtlich Waage, Gewichten und dergleichen anhalten und auch die Koṣa‑Abgabe auferlegen, selbst wenn sie gering ist. Ist das Messen bzw. Geschäft rein, soll er die Hälfte von hundert zahlen; ist es aber unrein (betrügerisch oder mangelhaft), wird er straf- und bußpflichtig.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s rājadharma/vyavahāra material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Assessment of fines/penalties in cases involving weights/measures and the koṣa (deposit/forfeit) mechanism; distinguishes clean vs fraudulent transactions for penalty scaling.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Fines for Weights/Measures Disputes and Koṣa Liability","lookup_keywords":["tula","māna","koṣa","daṇḍa","fraudulent measurement"],"quick_summary":"For higher-value cases, impose liability involving the balance/koṣa even if small; if the transaction is clean, levy a moderate fine, but if impure/fraudulent, impose punitive penalty."}
Concept: Proportional justice: penalties scale with value and with purity/impurity (honesty vs fraud) of the act.
Application: Design compliance regimes: minor errors incur moderate fines; proven fraud triggers punitive sanctions; ensure measurement standards and audits.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Vyavahāra (Legal Procedure, Fines, and Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marketplace dispute brought to court: a balance scale and standard weights are examined; the judge calculates fines; a koṣa/deposit chest is shown; honest trader vs fraudulent trader contrasted.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: court-market hybrid scene—merchant with goods, officials checking weights on a large balance, judge indicating fine; a chest (koṣa) nearby; warm palette, clear narrative bands.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate depiction of scales and weights with gold accents; judge seated, ledger open; koṣa chest embellished; merchants on either side representing ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ dealing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional focus on measurement—standard weights lined up, scale in center, judge marking half-hundred fine vs punitive danda; clean, diagram-like clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: bustling bazaar with a qazi-like judge; detailed scales, weights, goods; scribe recording fine; chest for deposit/forfeit; nuanced expressions of guilt/innocence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sahasrārthe → sahasra-arthe; koṣamalpe 'pi → koṣam + alpe + api; dāpayecchuddham → dāpayet + śuddham; śuddhamaśuddho → śuddham + aśuddhaḥ; daṇḍabhāg → daṇḍa-bhāk (final k before bh).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 254 (fines, penalties, weights/measures)
FAQs
It gives a technical rule of vyavahāra (legal administration): how restitution and fines are assessed in disputes involving weights/measures—requiring payment of even a small deficit, with differentiated treatment for a “pure” versus “impure” (fraudulent/defective) transaction.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance material: standards for trade, measurement integrity, restitution, and penal liability—showing its coverage of civil law and statecraft alongside ritual and devotion.
By insisting on honest measures and repayment of deficits, it frames commercial integrity as dharma; fraud (aśuddha) is not only a civil wrong but a sin-bearing act that incurs daṇḍa (punishment), reinforcing karmic accountability through just enforcement.