Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
शतानि पञ्च दण्ड्याः स्यादज्ञानाद् द्विशतो दमः मर्यादाभेदकाः सर्वे दण्ड्याः प्रथमसाहसं
śatāni pañca daṇḍyāḥ syādajñānād dviśato damaḥ maryādābhedakāḥ sarve daṇḍyāḥ prathamasāhasaṃ
ಅಜ್ಞಾನದಿಂದ ಮಾಡಿದ ಅಪರಾಧಕ್ಕೆ ಐನೂರು ದಂಡ ವಿಧಿಸಬೇಕು; ತಿಳಿದು ಮಾಡಿದ ಅಪರಾಧಕ್ಕೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ಎರಡು ನೂರು ಹೆಚ್ಚುವರಿ ದಂಡ. ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತ ಗಡಿ/ಮರ್ಯಾದೆಯನ್ನು ಭಂಗ ಮಾಡುವವರು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಸಾಹಸ (ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ದರ್ಜೆ) ದಂಡಕ್ಕೆ ಪಾತ್ರರು.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, Rajadharma context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Provides graded fines based on ignorance vs knowledge and prescribes punishment for boundary violators under the first grade of sāhasa—useful for land disputes, surveying, and deterrence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Graded fines for ignorance/knowledge; punishment for boundary violation (maryada-bheda)","lookup_keywords":["ajnana fine 500","jnana fine +200","maryada-bhedaka","prathama sahasa","boundary dispute"],"quick_summary":"Ignorant offence: 500 fine; knowing offence: 700 (500+200). Boundary-breakers are punished with the first-grade sāhasa—supporting consistent sentencing in land and jurisdiction disputes."}
Concept: Intention/knowledge increases culpability; boundaries are dharmic constraints that must be upheld.
Application: Sentencing guideline: determine mens rea (ignorance vs knowledge) and apply sāhasa category for boundary disputes.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law, Governance, Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Surveyors and villagers at a boundary marker; one party shown shifting a boundary stone; the king’s court imposes first-grade sāhasa, with fines differentiated by ignorance vs knowing intent.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: boundary stones with sacred trees, villagers disputing, a figure secretly moving a marker; king-judge with attendants indicating graded fines, bold colors and stylized gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate court with gold work; boundary stone and measuring rope depicted; two litigants, one contrite (ignorance) and one defiant (knowing), fines symbolized by coin stacks.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional land-dispute tableau—survey line, markers, scribe recording ‘prathama sahasa’, clear differentiation of intent through posture and facial expression.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed agrarian landscape with boundary posts, surveyors with ropes; darbar scene with nuanced expressions, coin fines, and written decree."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syādajñānāt = syāt + ajñānāt; dviśato = dvi-śataḥ (dvigu); maryādābhedakāḥ = maryādā-bhedakāḥ; prathamasāhasaṃ = prathama-sāhasam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (fines, sāhasa gradations, boundary rules)
FAQs
It imparts rāja-nīti/vyavahāra-vidyā: a graded schedule of monetary penalties (daṇḍa/dama) based on intent (ignorance vs. knowing act) and a specific category of offence—breaking established boundaries (maryādā-bheda)—punishable under the first grade of sāhasa.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and legal procedure—defining offence types (boundary violation) and standardized fines (graded sāhasa), showing its compendium-like coverage of governance alongside ritual and spiritual topics.
By prescribing proportionate punishment and protecting maryādā (social/legal boundaries), the verse supports dharma-maintenance; upholding order reduces harm (hiṃsā) and curbs adharma, shaping collective and individual karmic outcomes through just restraint.