Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 1
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयो नाम षट्पञ्चाशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ सप्तपञ्चाशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम् अग्निर् उवाच सत्यासत्यान्यथा स्तोत्रैर् न्यूनाङ्गेन्द्रियरोगिणां क्षेपं करोति चेद्दण्ड्यः पणानर्धत्रयोदश
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe sīmāvivādādinirṇayo nāma ṣaṭpañcāśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha saptapañcāśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ vākpāruṣyādiprakaraṇam agnir uvāca satyāsatyānyathā stotrair nyūnāṅgendriyarogiṇāṃ kṣepaṃ karoti ceddaṇḍyaḥ paṇānardhatrayodaśa
Thus, in the Agni Mahāpurāṇa, the two-hundred-and-fifty-sixth chapter, entitled “Decision on boundary-disputes and the like,” concludes. Now begins the two-hundred-and-fifty-seventh chapter: “The topic of verbal abuse and related offences.” Agni said: If a person, whether speaking truth or falsehood, mocks one who is deficient in limb(s), defective in sense-organs, or diseased—by means of disparaging praise or taunting words—he shall be punished with a fine of twelve and a half paṇas.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Sets penal standard for verbal abuse targeting disability or illness; guides judges in assessing insult-based offences and assigning fines.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Fine for mocking the disabled, sensory-impaired, or diseased (vak-parushya)","lookup_keywords":["vak-parushya","nindana","nyuna-anga","indriya-roga","pana fine"],"quick_summary":"Mocking or taunting a person with limb deficiency, sensory defect, or disease—whether the statement is true or false—incurs a fixed monetary fine (twelve and a half paṇas)."}
Alamkara Type: Vyaja-stuti (disparaging praise)
Concept: Ahimsa in speech: harming the vulnerable through ridicule is adharma regardless of factuality.
Application: Courts should treat disability/illness-directed mockery as a punishable offence; communities should cultivate respectful speech norms.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra—legal procedure, offences and penalties)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court hearing a case of verbal abuse: an offender mocked a person with disability/sensory impairment/illness using taunting ‘praise’; the judge assesses and imposes a fine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: courtroom tableau, compassionate focus on the afflicted person seated with attendants, offender gesturing mockingly, king/judge stern, scribe recording fine, traditional warm palette and bold contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: judge/king with gold-work throne, coin fine displayed, the protected person shown with dignified posture, offender subdued, rich ornamentation emphasizing dharma’s protection","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear didactic scene—labels for ‘vyaja-stuti’ and ‘pana fine’ implied through visual symbols (scroll, coin count), restrained expressions, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed court with nuanced facial expressions, offender’s sarcastic gesture, afflicted person dignified, clerk counting coins for fine, architectural depth"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ‘इत्य्’ = ‘इति’ + (y-sandhi before vowel) ‘आग्नेये’. ‘अध्यायः’ after number shows avagraha in IAST (‘’dhyāyaḥ’). ‘अग्निर् उवाच’ = ‘अग्निः उवाच’. ‘स्तोत्रैर्’ = ‘स्तोत्रैः’. ‘चेद्दण्ड्यः’ = ‘चेत् दण्ड्यः’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (vak-parushya and offences)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (juridical knowledge): a defined monetary fine for the offence of verbally ridiculing persons who are disabled, sense-impaired, or diseased.
Beyond mythology and worship, it records practical statecraft and legal norms (rājadharma), including offence-classification and quantified fines—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of governance and jurisprudence.
The rule discourages cruelty of speech (pāruṣya) and protects vulnerable persons; restraining harmful speech is treated as dharma, reducing negative karma arising from humiliation and injury caused by words.