Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 24
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
पञ्चाशद्ब्राह्मणो दण्ड्यः क्षत्रियस्याभिशंसने वैश्ये वाप्यर्धपञ्चाशच्छूद्रे द्वादशको दमः
pañcāśadbrāhmaṇo daṇḍyaḥ kṣatriyasyābhiśaṃsane vaiśye vāpyardhapañcāśacchūdre dvādaśako damaḥ
ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನನ್ನು ನಿಂದಿಸಿದರೆ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನಿಗೆ ಐವತ್ತು ಪಣಗಳ ದಂಡ; ವೈಶ್ಯನಿಗೆ ಐವತ್ತಿನ ಅರ್ಧ; ಶೂದ್ರನಿಗೆ ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ಪಣಗಳ ದಂಡ.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s dharma/rajaniti discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Benchbook-style guidance for courts: determine fines for a brāhmaṇa who reviles other varṇas, with a descending scale.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Fines for a Brāhmaṇa reviling Kṣatriya/Vaiśya/Śūdra","lookup_keywords":["brāhmaṇa-abhiśaṃsana","kṣatriya","vaiśya","śūdra","paṇa fine"],"quick_summary":"Specifies monetary penalties when a brāhmaṇa insults others: 50 paṇas for reviling a kṣatriya, 25 for a vaiśya, and 12 for a śūdra—illustrating graded daṇḍa by target status."}
Concept: Daṇḍa as corrective discipline even for privileged groups; speech-ethics enforced through fines.
Application: In adjudication, identify speaker (brāhmaṇa), target varṇa, then apply the fixed paṇa amount; treat as a standard schedule unless mitigating factors are separately stated.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Penal Law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court clerk reads out a schedule of fines: 50, 25, 12 paṇas; a brāhmaṇa stands as defendant; the offended parties stand to the side.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized sabhā scene, palm-leaf manuscript with numerals implied by coin stacks, brāhmaṇa in white with sacred thread, king/judge gesturing to a balance/coin tray","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted coin stacks in three tiers, ornate pillars, brāhmaṇa defendant with folded hands, judge-king with jeweled crown, strong symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition with three labeled fine amounts, refined faces, muted palette, emphasis on record-keeping and procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, accountants tallying coins, fine textiles, side profiles of litigants, precise architectural interior of a diwan-i-‘am-like hall"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pañcāśat+brāhmaṇaḥ → pañcāśadbrāhmaṇo; kṣatriyasya+abhiśaṃsane → kṣatriyasyābhiśaṃsane; vā+api → vāpi; ardha-pañcāśat+śūdre → ardhapañcāśacchūdre (t + ś → cch)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (tables of daṇḍa for insult and sāhasa)
FAQs
It gives a rule of danda-niti (penal jurisprudence): graded monetary fines (dama) for defamation/abuse (abhiśaṃsana) by a Brāhmaṇa directed toward members of different varṇas.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance material—legal procedure and punishments—showing its coverage of rajadharma alongside many other disciplines.
It treats abusive speech as adharma with social and karmic consequences; the imposed fine functions as a corrective, discouraging harm through words and restoring order (dharma) through accountability.