Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 4
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
अनृते तु पृथग्दण्ड्या राज्ञा मध्यमसाहसम् अभावे ज्ञातृचिह्नानां राजा सीम्नः प्रवत्तकः
anṛte tu pṛthagdaṇḍyā rājñā madhyamasāhasam abhāve jñātṛcihnānāṃ rājā sīmnaḥ pravattakaḥ
しかし虚偽があれば、王は別個の刑罰を科し、これをサーハサ（重罪）の中等に当たるものとして扱うべきである。識別の標や親族の証言がない場合、王自らが境界線の確立者となる。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Deterring perjury in boundary cases through graded punishment (madhyama-sāhasa) and empowering the king/state to fix boundaries when evidence is absent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Anṛta-daṇḍa in Sīmā-vivāda and Royal Establishment of Boundary","lookup_keywords":["anṛta","madhyama-sāhasa","daṇḍa","rājā sīmā-pravarttaka","pramāṇa-abhāva"],"quick_summary":"False testimony in boundary disputes incurs a serious, graded penalty; if marks and kin-testimony are lacking, the king is authorized to establish the boundary to restore order."}
Concept: Daṇḍa-nīti: punishment as a means to protect truth (satya) and social order in vyavahāra.
Application: Penalize perjury and create a fallback administrative mechanism (official survey/settlement) when evidence is insufficient.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: criminal law and judicial procedure)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court scene: a witness caught lying is sentenced; in another vignette, the king orders officials to establish a boundary where no marks or relatives’ testimony exist.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king seated with attendants, stern expression, a trembling witness before him, scribes and guards, second panel showing officials measuring land, bold lines and limited palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king with gold halo-like arch, raised hand of judgment, punished perjurer to the side, gold-embellished throne and ornaments, secondary scene of boundary fixing with stylized measuring rope","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: (1) perjury and madhyama-sāhasa penalty pronounced, (2) administrative boundary establishment with surveyors, clear gestures and calm detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature court, refined architecture, officials presenting records, accused witness, king issuing decree; landscape inset with surveyors marking boundary, fine calligraphic border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पृथग्दण्ड्या→पृथक् दण्ड्या; प्रवत्तकः is read as प्रवर्तकः in sense; kept as given.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: daṇḍa-vidhi and sāhasa gradations in Rajadharma/Vyavahara portions near ch. 256
FAQs
It imparts legal-technical guidance in vyavahāra: perjury/falsehood is penalized as a graded serious offence (madhyama-sāhasa), and in boundary disputes lacking kin-based identifiers, the king must determine and establish the boundary.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves dharmaśāstra-like court procedure—grading offences, prescribing punishments, and detailing how a ruler adjudicates practical matters like land boundaries.
By punishing falsehood and safeguarding boundaries through impartial royal decision, the king upholds dharma; truthfulness and just adjudication reduce social harm and support righteous karma for ruler and subjects.