Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 2
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
अभिगन्तास्मि भगिनीम्मातरं वा तवेति च शपन्तं दापयेद्राजा पञ्चविंशतिकं दमं
abhigantāsmi bhaginīmmātaraṃ vā taveti ca śapantaṃ dāpayedrājā pañcaviṃśatikaṃ damaṃ
जो व्यक्ति शपथ लेते समय कहे—“मैं तेरी बहन या तेरी माता का अपमान/दुष्कर्म करूँगा,” उस शपथकर्ता से राजा पच्चीस पण का दण्ड वसूल कराए।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in rajadharma/vyavahāra topics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Penalizes obscene/incest-threatening speech uttered during oaths; guides courts to treat such utterances as punishable verbal misconduct with a fixed fine.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Fine for obscene oath-threat involving mother/sister","lookup_keywords":["shapatha","vak-parushya","matr","bhagini","panchavimshatika dama"],"quick_summary":"If, while swearing, a person utters a threat of sexual violation against another’s mother or sister, the king imposes a fixed fine of twenty-five paṇas."}
Concept: Speech that violates kinship sanctity and public decency is adharma and disrupts social order, especially in solemn oath contexts.
Application: Courts should sanction obscene oath-speech to preserve the sanctity of testimony and prevent escalation into violence or sexual crime.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Judicial procedure and fines)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a judicial setting, an oath-taker blurts an obscene threat; the king/judge immediately orders a twenty-five paṇa fine, with scribes recording and guards enforcing decorum.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: solemn oath scene with sacred fire or oath-symbol, offender speaking rashly, king/judge stern, attendants restraining, scribe writing fine, strong moral drama in traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ceremonial court with gold accents, oath-taker before judge, coin fine prominently shown, emphasis on sanctity and authority, ornate borders and jewelry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional court vignette—oath gesture, judge’s directive, clerk tallying 25 coins, clear narrative sequencing, soft colors and precise lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate courtroom moment, expressive faces showing shock, judge signaling penalty, clerk counting coins, detailed textiles and architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ‘अभिगन्तास्मि’ resolved as ‘अभिगन्ता अस्मि’. ‘भगिनीम्मातरं’ resolved as ‘भगिनीम् मातरम्’. ‘दापयेद्राजा’ resolved as ‘दापयेत् राजा’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (vak-parushya offences and fines)
FAQs
It gives a concrete vyavahāra rule: abusive/sexually violent oath-formulas directed at a person’s female relatives are punishable by a fixed royal fine of twenty-five.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft—codifying courtroom speech, oath-usage, and standardized fines—showing it functions as a compendium of governance and jurisprudence.
It treats harmful speech and immoral intent expressed in oaths as adharma; the fine acts as a deterrent and a form of social-ethical expiation enforced by royal authority.