Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 18
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
एकं घ्नतां बहूनाञ्च यथोक्ताद्द्विगुणा दमाः कलहापहृतं देयं दण्डस्तु द्विगुणः स्मृतः
ekaṃ ghnatāṃ bahūnāñca yathoktāddviguṇā damāḥ kalahāpahṛtaṃ deyaṃ daṇḍastu dviguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ
Bagi orang yang memukul satu orang maupun banyak orang, dendanya menjadi dua kali lipat dari yang telah disebutkan sebelumnya. Apa pun yang dirampas dalam pertengkaran harus dikembalikan, dan denda hukuman dinyatakan berlipat dua.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guiding a judge/king in assessing graded fines for assault and quarrel-theft, including restitution plus punitive multiplier.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dviguna-danda for assault and quarrel-theft (restitution + double fine)","lookup_keywords":["danda","dviguna","kalaha","apahrita","pratidanam"],"quick_summary":"When violence or quarrel leads to taking another’s property, the taker must restore what was taken and additionally pay a punitive fine set at double the stated base amount; assault on one or many attracts doubled fines."}
Concept: Danda as deterrence plus restoration of social balance (pratipatti through restitution).
Application: In dispute resolution, prioritize restoring the victim’s loss and impose proportionate punitive multipliers to prevent recurrence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: criminal law and fines)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where a judge records a quarrel: the offender returns stolen goods while a scribe notes a doubled fine; two scenarios shown—assault on one and on many.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, royal sabha scene, king-judge on a raised seat, palm-leaf ledger, offender returning a bundle of goods, attendants and witnesses, flat warm colors, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gilded royal court, judge with halo-like arch, gold leaf detailing on throne and ornaments, offender presenting restored property, inscription panel indicating 'dviguna danda'.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional court tableau with labeled elements: restitution, fine, witnesses, scribe writing paṇa amounts.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtroom with patterned carpets, precise gestures of restitution, scribe with inkpot, marginal notes showing doubled fine, architectural depth and delicate faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यथोक्ताद् = यथा-उक्तात्; बहूनाञ्च = बहूनाम् + च; दण्डस्तु = दण्डः + तु; कलहापहृतम् = कलह-अपहृतम् (समास).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (Vyavahara: danda and fines); Agni Purana Rajadharma sections on danda-niti
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (legal procedure): doubling of fines for assault (including mass assault) and mandatory restitution of property taken during a quarrel, along with an additional double penalty.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and jurisprudence—specifically daṇḍanīti (penal policy) and compensation—showing its wide coverage of governance and social order.
By enforcing restitution and proportionate punishment, it supports dharma (right order): wrongdoing is materially repaired and ethically checked, reducing ongoing harm and the karmic burden created by violence and unjust seizure.