Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 38
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
गणद्रव्यं हरेद्यस्तु संविदं लङ्घयेच्च यः सर्वस्वहरणं कृत्वा तं राष्ट्राद्विप्रवासयेत्
gaṇadravyaṃ haredyastu saṃvidaṃ laṅghayecca yaḥ sarvasvaharaṇaṃ kṛtvā taṃ rāṣṭrādvipravāsayet
共同体・組合（gaṇa）の財を盗む者、また契約を破る者は、すべての財産を没収したうえで、王は国土より追放すべきである。
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Rajadharma discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Criminal justice: protect guild/community property and contract sanctity; impose confiscation and banishment for theft of corporate assets or breach of covenant to deter economic sabotage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Penalty for stealing guild property and violating agreements: confiscation and exile","lookup_keywords":["gana-dravya","theft","samvida","contract breach","banishment"],"quick_summary":"Stealing corporate/community property or breaking a contract is treated as a grave offense. The king should confiscate all property and expel the offender from the realm to protect trust and commerce."}
Concept: Danda as protector of dharma: harsh penalties are justified to preserve social trust and collective welfare.
Application: Modern analogue: strong enforcement against embezzlement of cooperative/public funds and against willful contract fraud.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Governance, law, and criminal justice)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guild hall with stored goods; an offender is brought before the king; scribes list confiscated items; guards escort the condemned beyond the city gate into exile.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic court scene with bold reds; king stern, guards holding the offender; piles of confiscated goods; city gate and road to forest at edge; strong outlines and lamp motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: king seated with gold embellishment; confiscated wealth depicted as stacked coins and goods with gold highlights; offender led away; ornate border emphasizing royal authority.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear narrative panels—(1) theft from guild store, (2) judgment with confiscation list, (3) banishment at city gate; fine linework, muted colors, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: bustling bazaar/guild warehouse; court officials inventory goods; offender escorted by soldiers; detailed architecture and textiles, realistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: haredyastu → haret yaḥ tu; laṅghayecca → laṅghayet ca; rāṣṭrādvipravāsayet → rāṣṭrāt vipravāsayet.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vyavahara/danda sections on theft, fines, and exile (contextual)
FAQs
It teaches rāja-nīti/nyāya procedure: offences like stealing guild property and breaching contracts merit state punishment—confiscation of the offender’s entire estate followed by exile.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharmaśāstra-style governance: protection of collective (guild) assets, enforceability of contracts, and graded criminal sanctions (property seizure and banishment).
It frames theft and breach of trust as adharma that harms social order; the king’s punishment functions as both deterrence and a means to restore dharma by removing the offender and neutralizing ill-gotten wealth.