Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 34
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
स तस्योत्पाद्य तुष्टिन्तु राज्ञे दद्यात्ततो दमं यस्तु रज्जुं घटं कूपाद्धरेच्छिन्द्याच्च तां प्रपां
sa tasyotpādya tuṣṭintu rājñe dadyāttato damaṃ yastu rajjuṃ ghaṭaṃ kūpāddharecchindyācca tāṃ prapāṃ
Having satisfied the injured party by restoring what is due, he shall thereafter pay a fine to the king. But whoever removes from a well the rope and the water-pot, or cuts or damages the public water-shed (prapā), is liable to punishment and fine.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, the Agni Purana’s common dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Procedure: first compensate the victim, then levy state fine; protect public water infrastructure (wells, ropes, pots, drinking sheds).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Restitution to victim and fine to king; penalties for damaging well-gear and prapā","lookup_keywords":["pratyarpana","rājadaṇḍa","kūpa-rajjū","ghaṭa","prapā"],"quick_summary":"The offender must satisfy the injured party by restoration/compensation, then pay a separate fine to the king; tampering with well equipment or damaging a public water-shed is punishable."}
Concept: Two-tier justice: private redress plus public penalty; safeguarding common goods is a royal duty.
Application: In governance, separate victim compensation from state deterrent fines; prioritize maintenance and legal protection of water infrastructure.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Vyavahāra (Governance, fines, and public welfare rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A well with rope and pot being stolen; nearby a public prapā (drinking shed) is shown damaged; in the court, the offender returns items to the victim and then pays a fine to the king.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split narrative: left a village well with rope and pot, right a prapā pavilion, center royal court with king ordering restitution then fine, bold outlines and traditional costumes","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate king and court with gold detailing; foreground shows well rope and pot as emblematic objects; prapā pavilion rendered with decorative pillars","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic illustration of well apparatus (rajjū, ghaṭa) and prapā structure, with a calm courtroom scene and clear object emphasis","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed village well scene with figures, architectural prapā pavilion, then court scene with accounting of fine, delicate palette and fine brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tasya + utpādya → tasyotpādya (अ + उ → ओ); dadyāt + tataḥ → dadyāttataḥ (त्-आगम/व्यञ्जनसन्धि); kūpāt + haret → kūpāddharet (त् + ह → द्ध); haret + chindyāt → harecchindyāt (त् + छ → च्छ); chindyāt + ca → chindyācca (त् + च → च्च)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (public welfare offenses; theft and damage)
FAQs
It teaches vyavahāra/daṇḍanīti procedure: first compensate and satisfy the affected party, then pay a state-imposed fine; it also criminalizes tampering with public water infrastructure (well-rope/pot and prapā).
Alongside theology and ritual, it preserves practical governance and civic-law norms—especially protection of shared utilities like wells and public water-stations—showing the Purana’s coverage of social administration.
Damaging or stealing from a well or prapā harms public welfare and obstructs charity; the mandated restitution and fine function as expiation by restoring social order and reducing the karmic fault of injuring the community.