Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Adhyaya 222 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharmāḥ): Duties of Kings (Administrative Order, Protection, and Revenue Ethics
ताञ्छिष्याच्चौरदण्डेन धार्मिकः पृथिवीपतिः सामान्यतो हृतञ्चौरैस्तद्वै दद्यात् स्वयं नृपः
tāñchiṣyāccauradaṇḍena dhārmikaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ sāmānyato hṛtañcauraistadvai dadyāt svayaṃ nṛpaḥ
正法に立つ地上の君主は、彼らを盗賊に定められた刑罰で処罰すべきである。また、一般に盗賊によって奪われたものは、まさに王自らが被害者に返還すべきである。
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Judicial sentencing: treat predatory relatives who seize dependents’ property as thieves; establish state duty of restitution to victims of theft.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Punishment as theft and royal restitution for stolen goods","lookup_keywords":["caura-danda","raja-dharma","restitution","theft-penalty","vyavahara"],"quick_summary":"Apply the thief’s penalty to wrongful takers; and when theft occurs generally, the king must ensure restoration/compensation to the victim as part of righteous governance."}
Concept: Rājadharma: the king’s righteousness is measured by punishment of wrongdoing and restoration of social balance through restitution.
Application: Codify theft penalties and a victim-compensation mechanism funded/guaranteed by the state.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Vyavahāra (Governance, Law, and Punishment)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in court orders a thief-like punishment for relatives who seized a widow’s support; scribes record the judgment; recovered goods are returned to the victim.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal king with attendants, bold outlines; scene of danda (punishment) and dharma—officials returning seized goods to a widow, clear moral composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore gold-work court tableau; king with scepter, gold arch, attendants; recovered jewelry/coins being ceremonially handed back to the victim; emphasis on royal dharma","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined courtroom with palm-leaf ledger; depiction of sentencing and restitution, calm instructional mood, detailed costumes","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, judicial assembly with qalam-style detail; confiscated goods displayed, decree issued, victim receiving restitution; intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ताञ्छिष्याच् = तान् + शिष्याच्; हृतञ्चौरैः = हृतम् + चौरैः; तद्वै = तत् + वै.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 222.20 (protected dependents); Agni Purana 222.22 (liability of anti-theft officials; false claims)
FAQs
It imparts rājadharma (statecraft/legal vidyā): the king must apply the prescribed thief-penalty (cauradaṇḍa) and ensure restitution—compensating for thefts when recovery from thieves is not assured.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies practical governance—criminal punishment and victim compensation—showing its wide scope as a compendium of dharma, polity, and social order.
A king who enforces just punishment and restores losses upholds dharma, preventing social disorder and accruing merit through protection of subjects; neglecting restitution is treated as a failure of royal duty with adverse karmic consequences.