Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 81
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
यो मन्येताजितो ऽस्मीति न्यायेनाभिपराजितः तमायान्तं पुनर्जित्वा दण्डयेद्द्विगुणं दमं
yo manyetājito 'smīti nyāyenābhiparājitaḥ tamāyāntaṃ punarjitvā daṇḍayeddviguṇaṃ damaṃ
正当に敗北したにもかかわらず「我は敗れていない」と思う者がいるなら、再び争いに来たとき、王はもう一度これを打ち負かし、罰金を倍にして処罰すべきである。
Lord Agni (in instruction on rājadharma, addressed to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Prevent vexatious re-litigation and contempt of judgment: if a party lawfully defeated reopens the dispute claiming non-defeat, impose double penalty upon repeat defeat.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Double penalty for re-contesting after lawful defeat","lookup_keywords":["punar-vyavahara","ajito'smi iti","nyayena parājita","dviguṇa-daṇḍa","raja-nyaya"],"quick_summary":"A litigant who refuses to accept a lawful verdict and returns to contest again is punished with a doubled fine after being defeated a second time—deterring frivolous or defiant litigation."}
Concept: Nyāya-sthairya (stability of justice): acceptance of lawful adjudication sustains social peace.
Application: Courts should discourage repeated suits after final judgment by escalating penalties for defiance and harassment.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma (Governance, Law, and Judicial Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A litigant returns to court insisting he was not defeated; the king/judge re-hears briefly, confirms the prior lawful defeat, and orders a doubled fine recorded by scribes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural court scene with repeated petitioner at the threshold, king gesturing ‘enough’, scribes with palm leaves marking ‘double fine’, stylized pillars and parasol.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a judge-king with gold arch, petitioner pleading again, minister presenting a tablet showing ‘2x’, treasurer with coin bags; ornate symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting procedural illustration: first verdict scene faintly in background, second appearance in foreground, scribe writing ‘dviguṇa’, clean lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with two-register narrative: upper register first judgment, lower register the return and doubled fine; detailed court costumes and calligraphic docket."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"measured","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मन्येताजितोऽस्मीति = मन्येत + अजितः + अस्मि + इति; न्यायेनाभिपराजितः = न्यायेन + अभि-पराजितः; पुनर्जित्वा = पुनः + जित्वा; दण्डयेद्द्विगुणं = दण्डयेत् + द्विगुणम् (t/d sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (vyavahara rules and penalties)
FAQs
It imparts rājadharma/nyāya-vidyā: a procedural rule that a person who, despite a lawful defeat, re-approaches to contest again should be punished with a doubled fine to deter frivolous or obstinate re-litigation.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves practical statecraft and legal norms—here, a court-management rule about escalating penalties—showing its coverage of governance, jurisprudence, and administrative discipline.
By upholding lawful judgments and discouraging obstinate false claims, the king protects dharma; resisting a just verdict and re-stirring dispute is treated as adharma, and the doubled penalty functions as both social correction and karmic restraint.