Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
निर्दोषो ज्ञानपूर्वकन्तु चौरवद्दण्डमर्हति मूल्यमादाय यः शिल्पं न दद्याद् दण्ड्य एव सः
nirdoṣo jñānapūrvakantu cauravaddaṇḍamarhati mūlyamādāya yaḥ śilpaṃ na dadyād daṇḍya eva saḥ
निर्दोष होने का दावा करे तो भी, जो जान-बूझकर ऐसा करे वह चोर के समान दण्ड का अधिकारी है। जो मूल्य लेकर भी शिल्प/सेवा न दे, वह निश्चय ही दण्डनीय है।
Lord Agni (teaching royal jurisprudence to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Contract enforcement and fraud deterrence: intentional wrongdoing punished as theft; penalizing non-performance after accepting payment for workmanship/service.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Punishment for knowing wrongdoing; penalty for taking payment and not delivering service (śilpa)","lookup_keywords":["jñānapūrvaka","chora-daṇḍa","śilpa","mūlya","anupapatti"],"quick_summary":"Claimed blamelessness does not protect one who knowingly commits the act; intentional fraud is punished like theft. A service-provider who takes payment but fails to deliver the agreed work is punishable."}
Concept: Intention (jñāna-pūrvakatva) aggravates culpability; economic dharma requires honest exchange—payment obligates performance.
Application: In service/contract disputes, verify acceptance of payment and promised deliverable; if deliberate non-performance is proven, impose penal sanctions akin to theft/fraud.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Governance, Law, and Judicial Ethics)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A craftsman accepts coins for a commissioned work but fails to deliver; the patron complains in court; the judge declares theft-like punishment for knowing fraud; unfinished work is shown as evidence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, artisan with tools and half-made object, patron holding coin pouch, court scene with judge pointing to evidence, bold outlines, narrative clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted coins and throne, artisan and patron in formal poses, the undelivered crafted item centered, rich ornamentation, authoritative dharma mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed tools and workshop setting, then courtroom with scribe, emphasis on instructional depiction of contract breach, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, workshop interior with realistic implements, patron-artist interaction, then a court hearing with nuanced expressions, delicate architectural details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्ञानपूर्वकन्तु → ज्ञानपूर्वकम् + तु; चौरवद्दण्डमर्हति → चौरवत् + दण्डम् + अर्हति; मूल्यमादाय → मूल्यम् + आदाय।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (contracts, wages, fines, theft-analogy)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (practical jurisprudence): taking payment and refusing to deliver work is treated as a theft-equivalent offence warranting legal punishment.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies civil and criminal norms—here, rules for commerce, contracts, and artisan accountability—showing its wide scope across governance and law.
Fraudulent taking of payment without delivery is framed as adharma akin to theft, implying negative karma and social disorder; just punishment supports dharma and purifies governance.