Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 28
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
मातरं पितरं ज्येष्ठं भ्रातरं श्वशुरं गुरुं आक्षारयञ्च्छतं दण्ड्यः पन्थानं चाददद्गुरोः
mātaraṃ pitaraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ bhrātaraṃ śvaśuraṃ guruṃ ākṣārayañcchataṃ daṇḍyaḥ panthānaṃ cādadadguroḥ
જે વ્યક્તિ માતા, પિતા, જ્યેષ્ઠ, ભાઈ, શ્વશુર અથવા ગુરુને કઠોર શબ્દોથી અપમાનિત કરે, તે સો પણનો દંડ પાત્ર છે; અને જે ગુરુના માર્ગાધિકારને અટકાવે કે હરણ કરે, તે પણ દંડનીય છે.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s legal/rajadharma material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guides royal courts in assessing fines for verbal abuse against protected relations (parents/elders/teacher) and for obstructing a teacher’s right of way; supports drafting of civic conduct rules and penalty schedules.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Fines for reviling elders and obstructing the guru’s path","lookup_keywords":["guru-apavada","matar-pitar-ninda","shata-pana-danda","pantha-avarodha","vyavahara-danda"],"quick_summary":"Abusing mother, father, elder kin, father-in-law, or teacher incurs a fixed fine of 100 paṇas. Obstructing/appropriating the teacher’s right of way is likewise punishable, establishing protected status for the guru in public space."}
Concept: Gurupitṛmātṛ-ādi-garimā (special reverence and legal protection for parents, elders, and teacher) and restraint of speech/behavior in public life.
Application: Cultivate controlled speech and deference to elders; in governance, codify graded penalties that protect social trust and the teacher’s dignity.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Penal and civil law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where an offender is fined for insulting elders; a guru walking on a road while a man blocks the path, with the king’s officers intervening.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, a crowned king seated in sabhā with palm-leaf records, a serene guru in white walking on a village road, guards imposing a coin-fine on a contrite offender, ornate borders, traditional stylization.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed king on throne, richly patterned court, guru with dignified posture, attendants presenting a pouch of paṇas as fine, heavy jewelry and gold work, frontal iconic composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, court scene with written ledger of fines, clear depiction of 'right of way' on a road, subdued colors, instructional clarity, minimal background clutter.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court architecture, naturalistic faces, a narrow street scene inset showing obstruction of the guru’s path, officials assessing a 100-paṇa fine, fine textile and manuscript-like margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ākṣārayañcchataṃ → ākṣārayan + ca + śatam; cādadadguroḥ → ca + adadat + guroḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (Rajadharma/Vyavahara: fines and punishments)
FAQs
This verse imparts danda-niti (penal jurisprudence): it specifies a quantified fine (one hundred paṇas) for verbal insult of protected elders/relations and prescribes punishment for depriving a guru of his path/right of passage.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also codifies governance and civil order; this verse functions like a dharma-shastra rule, detailing punishable offences, protected persons, and standardized monetary penalties.
Insulting parents, elders, and the guru is treated as a grave ethical fault because it violates reverence toward sources of life and knowledge; the stated punishment reinforces social and karmic accountability through restraint of speech and respect for dharma.