Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 26
Chapter 253 — व्यवहारकथनम्
The Account of Legal Procedure
न दाप्यो ऽपहृतं तत्तु राजदैवकतस्करैः प्रेषश्चेन्मार्गिते दत्ते दाप्यो दण्डश् च तत्समम्
na dāpyo 'pahṛtaṃ tattu rājadaivakataskaraiḥ preṣaścenmārgite datte dāpyo daṇḍaś ca tatsamam
Ce bien dérobé ne doit pas être réclamé au gardien/mandataire à titre de compensation lorsqu’il a été emporté par les officiers du roi, par un malheur du destin (calamité divine) ou par des voleurs ; mais si, après réclamation et recherche, un serviteur/agent le remet, il doit alors payer une amende égale à cette valeur.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Allocates liability for loss of entrusted goods: no compensation when loss is due to royal seizure, divine calamity, or theft; but penalizes an agent who, after demand/search, produces/delivers improperly—imposing a fine equal to value.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Liability for Lost Property: Royal Seizure, Calamity, Theft; Fine on Agent","lookup_keywords":["dāpyā","rajadaīvaka","taskara","preṣa","fine equal to value"],"quick_summary":"A keeper is not liable when loss occurs through state action, unavoidable calamity, or thieves; however, an agent who mishandles compliance after demand/search may be fined equal to the value."}
Concept: Just allocation of risk: no-fault losses are excused; culpable noncompliance attracts danda (penalty).
Application: In adjudication: determine cause of loss (state act/force majeure/theft vs. agent’s fault); apply exemption or equal-value fine accordingly.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Vyavahāra (Law of theft, liability, and penalties)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Officials seize goods under royal order; elsewhere thieves flee at night; in court, an agent is questioned after a search and is fined equal to the missing property.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic contrast: royal officers with staffs confiscating goods, night thieves in silhouette, then calm court with judge imposing fine, bold lines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted royal insignia on officers, formal courtroom with ornate pillars, fine depiction of coins as penalty","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional triptych: 'royal seizure', 'theft/calamity', 'court fine', clear iconographic cues and labels, delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed city street with officers, nocturnal theft vignette, then court pavilion with qazi-like judge and ledger of fines"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dāpyo 'pahṛtam = dāpyaḥ + apahṛtam; tattu = tat + tu; rājadaivakataskaraiḥ treated as dvandva; preṣaś cet = preṣaḥ + cet; tatsamam = tat + samam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 253.25 (deposit classification); Agni Purana 253.27 (misappropriation and restitution with increment)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (jurisprudence): rules for when an agent is not liable for loss due to royal seizure, fate, or theft, and when a monetary penalty equal to the goods applies.
Beyond myths and worship, the Agni Purana codifies practical governance—civil liability, theft exceptions, and proportional fines—showing it functions as a compendium of statecraft and legal procedure.
It frames justice as dharma: fair liability and proportionate punishment uphold social order (ṛta/dharma), reducing harm and preventing unjust blame, which is treated as a meritorious, dharma-protecting act.