Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 40
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
समूहकार्यप्रहितो यल्लभेत्तत्तदर्पयेत् एकादशगुणं दाप्यो यद्यसौ नार्पयेत् स्वयम्
samūhakāryaprahito yallabhettattadarpayet ekādaśaguṇaṃ dāpyo yadyasau nārpayet svayam
Wer zu einer gemeinschaftlichen Aufgabe entsandt ist, soll alles, was er daraus erlangt, abliefern. Liefert er es nicht von sich aus ab, so ist er zu einer elffachen Zahlung zu verurteilen.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s dharma/nyaya sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Anti-corruption and fiduciary accountability: an agent deputed for collective work must remit all proceeds; failure triggers an elevenfold penalty, discouraging misappropriation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Elevenfold penalty for non-remittance by a deputed collective agent","lookup_keywords":["samuhakarya","pratihita","remittance","elevenfold fine","embezzlement"],"quick_summary":"A deputed person must hand over all gains from a collective assignment. If he withholds them, he is liable to an elevenfold payment—an explicit multiplier penalty to protect public funds."}
Concept: Stewardship (trusteeship) over collective resources; restitution with punitive multiplier as moral correction.
Application: Implement strict remittance rules for public agents/contractors; use multiplier penalties for proven misappropriation to deter fraud.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Legal procedure, fines, and civic duties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A deputed agent returns from a collective task with collected goods/coins; he is required to deposit them before the council; upon withholding, scribes calculate an elevenfold penalty and the king orders payment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: agent with bundles and coin pot; council and king; scribe writing ‘11x’ on palm leaf; strong colors, stylized figures, lamp-lit hall.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted coins and treasury chest; king and officials; the number eleven indicated via eleven coin stacks; ornate borders and gold leaf detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional scene with ledger, treasury box, and eleven marked coin piles; calm but firm king; fine lines and soft colors emphasizing procedure.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: revenue office scene; accountant with papers and scales; agent presenting (or hiding) a purse; officials computing elevenfold recovery; detailed textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamas","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yallabhet → yat labhet; tattadarpayet → tat tat arpayet; yadyasau → yadi asau; nārpayet → na arpayet.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vyavahara passages on fines, restitution, and entrusted property (contextual)
FAQs
It gives a governance/legal rule: an agent deputed for a community assignment must remit all proceeds, and failure triggers a fixed punitive restitution (elevenfold).
Beyond rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical statecraft and jurisprudence—here, accountability of public agents and standardized fines for breach of trust.
It frames misappropriation of entrusted or collective goods as a serious breach of dharma; restitution and penalty function as both social correction and karmic rectification through enforced repayment.