Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 4
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
तीव्रैर् न च परैर् दण्डैर् अदेशे न च ताडयेत् कीलास्थिसंकुले चैव विषमे कण्टकान्विते
tīvrair na ca parair daṇḍair adeśe na ca tāḍayet kīlāsthisaṃkule caiva viṣame kaṇṭakānvite
មិនគួរវាយដោយទណ្ឌកម្មដ៏តឹងរ៉ឹង ឬហួសហេតុឡើយ ហើយក៏មិនគួរវាយនៅកន្លែងមិនសមរម្យ ដូចជា លើដីដែលពោរពេញដោយដែកគោល និងឆ្អឹង លើដីមិនស្មើ ឬក្នុងទីកន្លែងមានមែកបន្លា។
Lord Agni (in instruction on rajadharma/dandaniti)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for humane and legally proper punishment: avoid excessive force and avoid administering punishment in hazardous locations that cause undue injury or injustice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Limits on punishment: avoid excessive force and unsafe places","lookup_keywords":["daṇḍanīti","ati-tīvra-daṇḍa","adeśa","kaṇṭaka","viṣama-bhūmi"],"quick_summary":"Punishment should be proportionate and administered appropriately; do not beat with extreme severity or in dangerous places (nails/bones, uneven or thorny ground) that magnify harm."}
Concept: Daṇḍa must be measured and context-appropriate; justice is restraint, not cruelty.
Application: For rulers/judges/guards: standardize punishment procedures, ensure safe venues, and prevent torture-like escalation through environment or excess force.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Dandaniti (Governance, justice, and rules of punishment)
Primary Rasa: Samanya
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A magistrate restrains guards from beating a person harshly; the scene contrasts a safe, level courtyard (approved) with a nearby thorny, uneven ground strewn with nails/bones (forbidden).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rājā or magistrate with authoritative gesture stopping a guard, two ground zones shown symbolically: clean level earth vs thorny uneven patch with nails and bones, strong outlines and flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated judge with gold-embellished throne, guards holding staffs but restrained, gold highlights on royal insignia, clear depiction of forbidden thorny ground to the side.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional justice scene: labeled ‘adeśa’ hazards (nails, bones, thorns, uneven ground) contrasted with proper place, calm expressions emphasizing restraint.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court of justice with detailed textiles and architecture, a qazi-like magistrate figure (Indian court style) signaling moderation, guards and accused, meticulous rendering of hazardous ground elements at margin."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tīvraiḥ (written tīvrair) and paraiḥ (parair) show visarga/r sandhi in transmission; kaṇṭakānvite = kaṇṭaka + anvite (vowel sandhi); caiva = ca + eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana (Rājadharma/Daṇḍanīti sections around 287.4 context)
FAQs
It gives a practical rule of dandaniti: punishment must be restrained and administered only in appropriate conditions—avoiding excessive force and avoiding dangerous locations that add unintended injury.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana codifies governance and legal ethics, including procedural safeguards in punishment—showing its coverage of statecraft (rajadharma) alongside ritual and spiritual topics.
It frames punishment as a dharmic duty requiring restraint; avoiding cruelty and unnecessary harm reduces adharma for the ruler/authority and supports just order (dharma) rather than vindictive violence.