Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 17
Divya-pramāṇa-kathana
Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure
समामासतदर्हाहर् नामजातिस्वगोत्रजैः सब्रह्मचारिकात्मीयपितृनामादिचिह्नितम्
samāmāsatadarhāhar nāmajātisvagotrajaiḥ sabrahmacārikātmīyapitṛnāmādicihnitam
લેખમાં સંવત્સર, માસ અને યોગ્ય તિથિ વગેરે સ્પષ્ટ રીતે ચિહ્નિત કરવું; તેમજ વ્યક્તિનું નામ, જાતિ, પોતાનું ગોત્ર, સહ-બ્રહ્મચારીઓનાં નામો, પોતાના પિતાનું નામ વગેરે ઓળખચિહ્નો લખવા।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Standardizing legal instruments by requiring date and full identity markers to prevent fraud, impersonation, and later disputes.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Lekhyapatra-paricihna (Dating and identity markers in documents)","lookup_keywords":["lekhya","samvatsara-masa-tithi","nama-jati-gotra","pitrinama","paricihna"],"quick_summary":"A valid document should carry precise calendrical dating and robust personal identifiers (name, caste, gotra, father’s name, and related identifiers) to establish authenticity and enforceability."}
Concept: Pramana through proper documentation (lekhya as evidence) and social-identificatory clarity to uphold vyavahara.
Application: Use complete identifiers and exact dates on contracts/IOUs; treat documentation as a dharmic safeguard against conflict.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Administrative procedure and documentation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court or record-office scene where a scribe prepares a document and carefully notes year, month, day, and the parties’ identifying details (name, jati, gotra, father’s name), with attendants and witnesses present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, stylized figures in a royal sabha, palm-leaf manuscript and stylus, scribe writing samvatsara-masa-tithi and nama-jati-gotra, ornamental borders, dignified administrative mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold leaf, a king’s court record desk, richly dressed scribe inscribing date and identity markers on a document, witnesses standing, ornate pillars, halo-like emphasis on the document as dharma-pramana","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft colors, instructional depiction of a legal document layout showing fields for year/month/day and name/jati/gotra/pitrinama, scribe demonstrating to clerks","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature style, detailed diwān office, paper document with neat headings for date and identity, scribe with reed pen, witnesses and litigants in profile, architectural depth and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"formal","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: samāmāsa (सम + मास); tad-arha-ahar (तदर्ह + अहः); sva-gotra-jaiḥ (स्वगोत्र + जैः); sa-brahmacāri-ka-ātmīya-pitṛ-nāma-ādi-cihnitam is a long tatpuruṣa compound ending in kta-participle cihnitam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 254 (Vyavahara/Lekhana-vidhi context)
FAQs
It gives technical rules for drafting/validating a written instrument: it must carry a precise date (year–month–day) and clear identity markers (name, jāti, gotra, associates, father’s name, etc.) to prevent ambiguity and dispute.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance and legal procedure—here, documentary standards for administrative and juridical certainty—showing its coverage of vyavahāra (law) alongside other sciences.
By insisting on truthful, verifiable identification in records, it supports dharma in social dealings—reducing fraud and conflict—thereby aligning worldly transactions with moral order and merit-producing conduct.