Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 8
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
विवासयेद्ब्राह्मणन्तु भोज्यो विधिर् न हीरतः निक्षेपस्य समं मूल्यं दण्ड्यो निक्षेपभुक् तथा
vivāsayedbrāhmaṇantu bhojyo vidhir na hīrataḥ nikṣepasya samaṃ mūlyaṃ daṇḍyo nikṣepabhuk tathā
Pero en el caso de un brāhmaṇa, el castigo debe ser el destierro; no se prescribe para él castigo corporal. Quien consume o se apropia indebidamente de un depósito (nikṣepa) debe ser multado también por una suma igual al valor de dicho depósito.
Lord Agni (teaching traditional rajadharma/vyavahara norms)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Judicial sentencing rules: differentiated punishment for varna-status and valuation-based fines for breach of trust (deposit misappropriation).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Punishment for Brāhmaṇa offenders; fine for misappropriating a deposit (nikṣepa)","lookup_keywords":["nikṣepa","daṇḍa","vivāsana","brāhmaṇa","vyavahāra"],"quick_summary":"For a Brāhmaṇa, the penal norm is banishment rather than corporal punishment. Misappropriating a deposit is punished by a fine equal to the deposit’s value."}
Concept: Daṇḍanīti balances social order with graded penalties; breach of trust (nikṣepa-bhoga) is treated as a measurable wrong requiring restitution-like fine.
Application: In adjudication, apply status-based sentencing norms where the text prescribes, and compute fines by objective valuation of the misappropriated deposit.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Legal Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court scene: the king on a throne with sabhā members; a litigant accuses another of consuming a deposited item; scribes tally the deposit’s value; the judgment of banishment for a Brāhmaṇa is pronounced.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, ornate court pavilion, king with parasol, dharma-judges seated, a sealed deposit bundle shown, gesture of banishment indicated by attendants pointing outward, traditional jewelry and textiles, symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf throne and arch, richly ornamented king, stylized court figures, a deposit casket with gems, inscription-like panel showing 'nikṣepa', emphasis on regal authority and dharma, warm reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, muted palette, detailed accounting scene with palm-leaf ledger, court clerk weighing value, calm didactic mood, balanced spacing, delicate facial expressions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar with carpets, attendants, and scribes, realistic gestures, a litigant presenting a deposit pouch, the accused confronted, marginal floral motifs, precise architectural perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विवासयेद् + ब्राह्मणम् + तु → विवासयेद्ब्राह्मणन्तु; विधिः + न → विधिर् न; निक्षेपभुक् (समास) = निक्षेपस्य भुक्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (Vyavahāra: nikṣepa/stealing/fines)
FAQs
It teaches vyavahāra-vidyā (legal procedure): how courts should penalize misappropriation of a deposit, including a status-specific penalty rule for Brāhmaṇas (banishment rather than corporal punishment).
Beyond myth and worship, it preserves practical jurisprudence—property law, court-imposed fines, and graded punishments—showing the Purana’s coverage of governance and civil administration.
Protecting entrusted property is framed as dharma; violating a deposit is a serious ethical breach, and rightful punishment/fine supports social order and reduces the offender’s karmic liability through lawful restitution.