Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 25
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
प्ररोहिशाखिनां शाखास्कन्धसर्वविदारणे उपजीव्यद्रुमाणान्तु विंशतेर्द्विगुणा दमाः
prarohiśākhināṃ śākhāskandhasarvavidāraṇe upajīvyadrumāṇāntu viṃśaterdviguṇā damāḥ
Pour les arbres qui poussent en rejetons et portent des branches, si quelqu’un fend ou déchire, de quelque manière que ce soit, leurs branches ou leur tronc, l’amende est de vingt (paṇas). Mais pour les arbres qui assurent le gagne-pain, l’amende est le double, soit quarante.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Legal protection of trees as property and livelihood assets; sets standard fines for damaging branches/trunks, with higher penalties for economically sustaining trees.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Fines for Damaging Trees; Double for Livelihood-Sustaining Trees","lookup_keywords":["druma","shakha-skandha","vidarana","upajivya-druma","vimshati"],"quick_summary":"Damaging branches or trunk of sprouting/branching trees incurs a 20-paṇa fine; for trees that sustain livelihood, the fine is doubled."}
Concept: Protection of productive nature (trees) as a dharmic-economic duty; higher penalty where community livelihood is harmed.
Application: Treat damage to orchards, shade trees, and income trees (fruit, timber, resin) as aggravated offense with enhanced fines.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Danda-niti: fines and penalties for injury to property/trees)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A man caught splitting a tree trunk/branch; villagers bring him before an officer who records a 20-paṇa fine, doubled for a livelihood tree like a fruit orchard tree.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized grove with a split trunk, officer with palm-leaf register, villagers pointing, coins depicted symbolically, flat decorative foliage patterns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, lush fruit tree with gold-highlighted leaves, offender with axe, judge imposing fine, ornate borders and gilded accents","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene showing two cases: ordinary tree (20) and livelihood tree (40), scribe writing numbers, clear composition and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, orchard setting with detailed botanicals, offender apprehended, official tallying coins, delicate shading and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शाखास्कन्धसर्वविदारणे = शाखा-स्कन्ध-सर्व-विदारणे; उपजीव्यद्रुमाणान्तु = उपजीव्य-द्रुमाणाम् तु; विंशतेर्द्विगुणा = विंशतेः द्विगुणाः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (property damage and fines)
FAQs
It teaches danda-niti (penal jurisprudence): how to assess monetary fines for damaging trees—standard trees incur a fine of twenty, while livelihood-sustaining trees incur a doubled fine.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and legal standards—here, a precise tariff of fines for property/ecological damage, reflecting administrative and economic regulation.
By penalizing harm to trees—especially those sustaining livelihoods—the text frames protection of living resources as a dharmic duty; preventing injury and compensating harm supports social order and reduces harmful karma.