Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 53
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
द्यूतमेकमुखं कार्यं तस्करज्ञानकारणात् एष एव विधिर्ज्ञेयः प्राणिद्यूते समाह्वये
dyūtamekamukhaṃ kāryaṃ taskarajñānakāraṇāt eṣa eva vidhirjñeyaḥ prāṇidyūte samāhvaye
Gambling should be conducted under a single, centralized supervision, because it can lead to knowledge and detection of thieves. This very same rule should be understood to apply as well in contests involving living beings, when they are formally convened.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purāṇa’s rājadharma discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Centralize and supervise gambling and animal contests to monitor criminal networks and identify thieves; apply uniform regulatory oversight to public competitions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Centralized supervision of gambling and living-being contests for policing","lookup_keywords":["dyuta","eka-mukha","taskara","prani-dyuta","samahvaya"],"quick_summary":"Gambling should operate under a single supervisory authority to aid detection of thieves; the same centralized rule applies to formally convened contests involving living beings."}
Concept: Order (niyama) in public amusements becomes an instrument of governance and crime prevention.
Application: License a single official controller, require registration of participants, and use the venue as an intelligence point to track theft and fencing.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Vyavahāra (Law, governance, and judicial procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A state-supervised gambling/contest venue with one chief controller overseeing play; guards and scribes observe, and a suspected thief is identified among the crowd.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: bustling public hall, one central supervisor seated on raised platform, attendants with lamps, guards watching entrances, a thief being pointed out, stylized figures and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central supervisor with gold-highlighted seat, orderly rows of participants, coin trays, symbolic depiction of law-and-order, ornate pillars and gold embellishments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional diagram-like scene—single control desk, registers, controlled entry, depiction of animal contest area at side, calm didactic palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: lively crowd scene, official at center with seal, scribes noting names, subtle narrative of thief detection, fine detail in costumes and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ‘विधिर्ज्ञेयः’ resolved as ‘विधिः ज्ञेयः’. Compound ‘तस्करज्ञानकारणात्’ treated as tatpurusha in ablative.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (dyuta and vyavahara rules)
FAQs
It teaches a governance procedure (vyavahāra/daṇḍanīti): gambling should be centralized under one official channel so it can be monitored and used to identify criminal networks such as thieves.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical statecraft—rules for regulating gambling, public assemblies, and policing—showing its coverage of social administration and legal order.
By restraining harmful social vices through lawful oversight and preventing theft and disorder, the ruler supports dharma; maintaining public order is treated as a dhārmic duty with positive karmic consequence for governance.