तस्यातिक्रमे शपथेन अग्न्युदकसीताप्राकारलोष्टहस्तिस्कन्धाश्वपृष्टरथोपस्थशस्त्ररत्नबीजगन्धरससुवर्णहिरण्यान्यालेभिरे हन्युरेतानि त्यजेयुश्चैनं यः शपथमतिक्रामेत् इति ॥ कZ_०७.१७.०७ ॥
tasyātikrame śapathena agnyudaka-sītā-prākāra-loṣṭa-hasti-skandha-aśva-pṛṣṭha-ratha-upastha-śastra-ratna-bīja-gandha-rasa-suvarṇa-hiraṇyāny ālebhire hanyur etāni tyajeyuś cainaṃ yaḥ śapatham atikrāmet iti
For breach of that (agreement), one should bind him by an oath: “May fire, water, the cultivated boundary-line, fortification, clod of earth, the elephant’s shoulder, the horse’s back, the chariot-seat, weapons, jewels, seeds, perfumes, tastes (foodstuffs), gold, and silver strike and abandon the one who violates the oath.”
They function as comprehensive ‘witnesses’ representing core state pillars—security (weapons, mounts), territory (boundary, fort), and prosperity (seeds, valuables). The breadth increases psychological deterrence and social legitimacy of punishment for breach.
It ties oath-breaking to concrete state interests—territorial integrity and defense—making violation not merely personal dishonor but an offense against the polity’s foundations.