Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 17
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
चेष्टाभोजनवाग्रोधे नेत्रादिप्रतिभेदने कन्धराबाहुसक्थ्याञ्च भङ्गे मध्यमसाहसः
ceṣṭābhojanavāgrodhe netrādipratibhedane kandharābāhusakthyāñca bhaṅge madhyamasāhasaḥ
ការរារាំងចលនា អាហារ ឬពាក្យសម្តីរបស់មនុស្ស; ការធ្វើឲ្យរបួសភ្នែក និងអង្គងារផ្សេងៗ; និងការបាក់ក កំភួនដៃ និងភ្លៅ—ទាំងនេះត្រូវចាត់ថាជា «អំពើហិង្សាកម្រិតមធ្យម» (madhyama-sāhasa)។
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Defines middle-grade violent offences including coercive restraint (blocking movement/food/speech), organ injury (eyes etc.), and major fractures, aiding courts and physicians in categorizing harm and assigning penalties.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Madhyama-sāhasa: coercive restraint, organ injury, and major fractures","lookup_keywords":["ceṣṭā-nirodha","bhoga-nirodha","vāk-nirodha","netra-pratibhedana","kandharā-bāhu-sakthi-bhaṅga"],"quick_summary":"Acts that restrain a person’s basic functions (movement, eating, speaking), injure vital organs like the eyes, or break major limbs/neck are classified as madhyama-sāhasa for enhanced punishment."}
Concept: Dharma safeguards agency and bodily function; coercive deprivation and disabling injury are serious wrongs.
Application: Courts treat functional obstruction (food/speech/movement) as violence; medical testimony on impairment supports sentencing.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law, Crimes, and Punishments)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sequence: a victim’s path is blocked and mouth covered (speech/food obstruction), then an eye injury, then a fracture of arm/thigh/neck; the judge labels it madhyama-sāhasa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative frieze showing restraint and injury scenes with a concluding court judgment; expressive gestures, traditional costumes, strong contour lines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gilded court with inset vignettes: blocking movement, covering mouth, eye injury, fractured limb; gold leaf borders and jewel-toned palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic panels with clear labeling of ceṣṭā/bhojana/vāk-nirodha and netra injury; anatomical clarity for fractures; calm instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, urban scene of coercion and injury with a later durbar adjudication; fine detailing of faces, textiles, and medical bandaging"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kafi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाग्रोधे → वाक् + रोधे. नेत्रादिप्रतिभेदने → नेत्र + आदि + प्रतिभेदने. सक्थ्याञ्च → सक्थ्याम् + च (anusvāra/yaṇ sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (madhyama-sāhasa and related fines/penalties)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (legal-judicial knowledge): the technical definition of madhyama-sāhasa—medium-grade assault—by listing specific actionable injuries and restraints.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance material: a dharmaśāstra-like catalogue of offences (injury, restraint, fracture) used for adjudication and proportionate punishment.
By classifying harm to others as a punishable offence, it reinforces dharma: causing injury or unlawfully restraining another accrues negative karma, while just restraint and proportionate punishment support social order (dharma) and reduce adharma.