Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 45
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
वेतनन्द्विगुणं दद्याद्दण्दञ्च द्विगुणं तथा भार्या पुत्राश् च दासाश् च शिष्यो भ्राता च सोदरः
vetanandviguṇaṃ dadyāddaṇdañca dviguṇaṃ tathā bhāryā putrāś ca dāsāś ca śiṣyo bhrātā ca sodaraḥ
Debe pagar el salario al doble, y asimismo una multa al doble; (esta norma, según corresponda) se extiende a la esposa, a los hijos, a los sirvientes, al discípulo y también al hermano nacido del mismo vientre.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s common dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Legal remedy framework: restitution (double wages) plus punitive fine (double), and extension of liability/coverage to dependents/household and close relations in relevant contexts (agency, responsibility, or entitlement).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Dviguna-vetana and dviguna-daṇḍa rule; scope of persons","lookup_keywords":["dviguṇa","vetana","daṇḍa","vyavahāra","gṛhastha"],"quick_summary":"The verse states a double-compensation and double-fine principle. It also enumerates persons (wife, sons, servants, student, brother) indicating the rule’s applicability in household/agency relationships depending on the case."}
Concept: Justice combines restitution and deterrence; social units (household/lineage) are treated as loci of responsibility/entitlement in applied law.
Application: When adjudicating breach or harm, compute both compensation and penalty; clarify who is bound/covered (principal, dependents, agents) to prevent evasion and ensure enforceability.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Vyavahāra (Dharmaśāstra / Legal Procedure and Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A legal accounting scene: an official calculates doubled wages and doubled fine on a palm-leaf ledger; parties stand before the judge; household members/agents are shown to indicate scope (wife, sons, servant, student, brother).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized scribe with palm-leaf, judge gesturing ‘double’, grouped household figures behind the litigant, warm earthy tones, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central judge with gold-ornamented throne, ledger and coin stacks highlighted with gold leaf, orderly grouping of family/retainers, emphasis on lawful prosperity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional tableau with clear depiction of ledger, weights/coins, and a ‘2x’ gesture motif, fine lines and soft colors, courtroom interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: revenue-office aesthetic—clerks, ledgers, coin trays; litigants with family/servants; precise architectural framing and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vetanandviguṇaṃ = vetanam dviguṇam; dadyāddaṇdañca = dadyāt daṇḍam ca; putrāś ca = putrāḥ ca; dāsāś ca = dāsāḥ ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226.44 (fee-taking and punishability) as immediate context for wage/fine doubling; Agni Purana 226.46 (limits on corporal punishment) as complementary penal procedure
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (legal/governance procedure): the principle of paying double wages and imposing a doubled fine, with reference to liability/coverage involving close household and dependent relationships.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves dharmaśāstra-like governance material—rules on remuneration, penalties, and social/legal responsibility—showing its wide scope across practical statecraft and civil law.
By mandating fair compensation and heightened penalties for wrongdoing, it reinforces dharma (righteous order); adherence reduces pratyavāya (fault from neglect of duty) and supports social harmony, which is treated as a merit-bearing expression of righteous conduct.