Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 26
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
यः साहसङ्कारयति स दाप्यो द्विगुणन्दमम् यस्त्वेवमुक्त्वाहं दाता कारयेत् स चतुर्गुणम्
yaḥ sāhasaṅkārayati sa dāpyo dviguṇandamam yastvevamuktvāhaṃ dātā kārayet sa caturguṇam
जो किसी साहस/हिंसा का कार्य करवाता है, उससे दुगुना दण्ड वसूल किया जाए; और जो ‘मैं भर दूँगा’ कहकर वही करवाए, उससे चौगुना दण्ड लिया जाए।
Lord Agni (in discourse on rajadharma/vyavahara to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Assigns enhanced liability to instigators and sponsors of violence: double fine for one who causes assault; fourfold for one who authorizes it promising payment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Instigation Liability in Assault (Double vs Fourfold Fine)","lookup_keywords":["sahasa","karayati","dviguna-dama","aham data","caturguna"],"quick_summary":"The instigator of violence pays double; if he explicitly undertakes to pay and then has it done, he pays four times—targeting masterminds and paid violence."}
Concept: Moral-legal responsibility extends beyond the direct actor to the planner/financier; intention and procurement aggravate guilt.
Application: In investigations, identify abettors and those who commission harm; apply multiplier penalties to disrupt organized violence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Danda-niti / Legal Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A patron whispers orders to a hired assailant; later both stand in court as the judge distinguishes double and fourfold fines; coins and written decree shown.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic but formal court scene, two accused (instigator and hired man), judge with staff of authority, symbolic coin stacks labeled double/fourfold, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king-judge with gold throne, two offenders presented, minister holding scroll stating dviguṇa/caturguṇa, gold leaf highlights on coins and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic split-panel: ‘karayati’ (double) vs ‘aham dātā’ (fourfold), scribe annotating, restrained palette and precise detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, clandestine commissioning scene transitioning to courtroom, refined gestures, coin bags, calligraphic note of multipliers, architectural interior"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: साहसङ्कारयति = साहस-आङ्कारयति (समास/सन्धि-रूप); द्विगुणन्दमम् = द्विगुणम् दमम्; यस्त्वेवमुक्त्वाहं = यः तु एवम् उक्त्वा अहम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (sāhasa and daṇḍa gradations)
FAQs
It teaches a legal rule of danda-niti: an instigator of violence is punished with a doubled fine, and one who explicitly undertakes to pay and then instigates is punished fourfold.
Beyond mythology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical jurisprudence—principles of liability, abetment, and graded penalties—showing its coverage of governance and legal administration.
By escalating punishment for instigation—especially when backed by a pledge to fund wrongdoing—it discourages indirect harm and reinforces dharma by holding intention and facilitation morally accountable.