Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
शतानि पञ्च दण्ड्याः स्यादज्ञानाद् द्विशतो दमः मर्यादाभेदकाः सर्वे दण्ड्याः प्रथमसाहसं
śatāni pañca daṇḍyāḥ syādajñānād dviśato damaḥ maryādābhedakāḥ sarve daṇḍyāḥ prathamasāhasaṃ
Por una falta cometida por ignorancia, la multa debe ser de quinientos; por una cometida a sabiendas, la pena se incrementa en doscientos más. Todos los que quebrantan los linderos establecidos han de ser castigados con el primer (más bajo) grado de sāhasa.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, Rajadharma context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Provides graded fines based on ignorance vs knowledge and prescribes punishment for boundary violators under the first grade of sāhasa—useful for land disputes, surveying, and deterrence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Graded fines for ignorance/knowledge; punishment for boundary violation (maryada-bheda)","lookup_keywords":["ajnana fine 500","jnana fine +200","maryada-bhedaka","prathama sahasa","boundary dispute"],"quick_summary":"Ignorant offence: 500 fine; knowing offence: 700 (500+200). Boundary-breakers are punished with the first-grade sāhasa—supporting consistent sentencing in land and jurisdiction disputes."}
Concept: Intention/knowledge increases culpability; boundaries are dharmic constraints that must be upheld.
Application: Sentencing guideline: determine mens rea (ignorance vs knowledge) and apply sāhasa category for boundary disputes.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law, Governance, Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Surveyors and villagers at a boundary marker; one party shown shifting a boundary stone; the king’s court imposes first-grade sāhasa, with fines differentiated by ignorance vs knowing intent.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: boundary stones with sacred trees, villagers disputing, a figure secretly moving a marker; king-judge with attendants indicating graded fines, bold colors and stylized gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate court with gold work; boundary stone and measuring rope depicted; two litigants, one contrite (ignorance) and one defiant (knowing), fines symbolized by coin stacks.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional land-dispute tableau—survey line, markers, scribe recording ‘prathama sahasa’, clear differentiation of intent through posture and facial expression.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed agrarian landscape with boundary posts, surveyors with ropes; darbar scene with nuanced expressions, coin fines, and written decree."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syādajñānāt = syāt + ajñānāt; dviśato = dvi-śataḥ (dvigu); maryādābhedakāḥ = maryādā-bhedakāḥ; prathamasāhasaṃ = prathama-sāhasam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (fines, sāhasa gradations, boundary rules)
FAQs
It imparts rāja-nīti/vyavahāra-vidyā: a graded schedule of monetary penalties (daṇḍa/dama) based on intent (ignorance vs. knowing act) and a specific category of offence—breaking established boundaries (maryādā-bheda)—punishable under the first grade of sāhasa.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and legal procedure—defining offence types (boundary violation) and standardized fines (graded sāhasa), showing its compendium-like coverage of governance alongside ritual and spiritual topics.
By prescribing proportionate punishment and protecting maryādā (social/legal boundaries), the verse supports dharma-maintenance; upholding order reduces harm (hiṃsā) and curbs adharma, shaping collective and individual karmic outcomes through just restraint.