Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 10
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
मासानष्टौ तु महिषी सत्यघातस्य कारिणी दण्डनीया तदर्धन्तु गौस्तदर्धमजाविकं
māsānaṣṭau tu mahiṣī satyaghātasya kāriṇī daṇḍanīyā tadardhantu gaustadardhamajāvikaṃ
सत्यघात (सत्य का उल्लंघन) के अपराध में दण्ड यह है—आठ मास के लिए महिषी (भैंस) दण्डनीय/जप्त हो; उसका आधा गौ; और उसका भी आधा अजा या अविक (बकरी या भेड़)।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purāṇa’s rajadharma section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Setting graded fines (in livestock/time-equivalents) for the offense of satyaghata, enabling consistent sentencing and restitution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Fines in Livestock for Satyaghata (Violation of Truth)","lookup_keywords":["satyaghata","danda","mahishi","gau","ajavika"],"quick_summary":"For satyaghata, the fine is graded: a she-buffalo for eight months; a cow at half; a goat/sheep at half again—establishing proportional penalties by value."}
Concept: Satya as foundational virtue; its violation warrants tangible penalty to restore trust and order.
Application: Treat perjury/fraud as serious; calibrate fines to economic capacity/value to ensure deterrence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: penalties for offenses)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court scene where a person is found guilty of satyaghata; livestock fines are assessed—buffalo, cow, then goat/sheep—shown as graded restitution under the king’s authority.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of dharma-court: judge-king seated, accused with folded hands, attendants leading a she-buffalo, then a cow, then a goat/sheep as graded fines; bold outlines, warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a king dispensing justice with gold-leaf ornamentation; foreground shows the three animals symbolizing the fine scale; rich textiles and temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting instructional chart-like scene: three animals aligned with ‘eight months’, ‘half’, ‘half again’; scribe recording; clean composition for legal pedagogy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature courtroom with meticulous detail: officials, registers, accused, and animals brought as fine; architectural pavilion, nuanced expressions, naturalistic rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मासानष्टौ → मासान् + अष्टौ; तदर्धन्तु → तत्-अर्धम् + तु; गौस्तदर्धमजाविकं → गौः + तत्-अर्धम् + अजा-आविकम् (sandhi: visarga/avagraha and vowel coalescence).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (penalties and vyavahara)
FAQs
It teaches daṇḍa-vidhi (juridical assessment of penalties) by grading fines using livestock value—buffalo, cow, then goat/sheep—linked to the offense termed satyaghāta (violation of truth).
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical rajadharma: measurable fines, proportional scaling, and administrative justice—features typical of dharmaśāstra-style legal material.
By penalizing satyaghāta, the text upholds satya (truth) as a core dharmic virtue; enforcing truthfulness is presented as essential for social order and for reducing the karmic harm caused by deceit.