Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 59
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
मध्यमं प्राप्नुयाद्दण्डं कूटकर्ता तथोत्तमं कलहापकृतं देयं दण्डश् च द्विगुणस्ततः
madhyamaṃ prāpnuyāddaṇḍaṃ kūṭakartā tathottamaṃ kalahāpakṛtaṃ deyaṃ daṇḍaś ca dviguṇastataḥ
ಸುಳ್ಳು ದಾಖಲೆ/ತಪ್ಪು ಸಾಕ್ಷ್ಯ ರಚಿಸುವ ಕೂಟಕರ್ತನು ಮಧ್ಯಮ ದಂಡವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಬೇಕು; ಜಗಳವನ್ನು ಉಸಿರಿಸುವವನು ಉತ್ತಮ ದಂಡವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಬೇಕು। ಜಗಳದಿಂದಾದ ಹಾನಿಗೆ ಪರಿಹಾರ ನೀಡಿ, ನಂತರ ದಂಡವನ್ನು ದ್ವಿಗುಣಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು।
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Judicial deterrence: punish forgery and quarrel-instigation; require compensation for harm and apply doubled fines to curb social disruption.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Penalties for forgery and quarrel-instigation; compensation and doubled fine","lookup_keywords":["kūṭakṛt (forger)","kalaha (quarrel)","dvi-guṇa daṇḍa","compensation (pratikāra)","vyavahāra"],"quick_summary":"Forgery receives a middle-grade penalty; instigating quarrels is treated more severely, requiring compensation for damage and then a doubled fine."}
Concept: Speech and documents can injure society; law must both repair harm (compensation) and prevent recurrence (enhanced fines).
Application: In modern terms: restitution first, then punitive damages; treat instigation as an aggravating factor even if indirect.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law, Governance, Penalties)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A courtroom scene: a scribe presents a forged document; another figure is shown whispering to provoke a quarrel; the judge orders compensation and a doubled fine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic court: palm-leaf document held up, instigator gesturing sharply, judge’s hand raised in command, saturated colors, clear moral contrast.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf throne backdrop, forged copperplate/palm-leaf shown, victims receiving compensation, ornate borders, solemn justice theme.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, procedural emphasis: scribe, witnesses, compensation being counted, doubled fine recorded, neat detailing of documents and seals.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous depiction of paper/palm-leaf, seals, accountants counting coins, instigator separated in composition, refined court architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prāpnuyād + daṇḍam → prāpnuyāddaṇḍam; tathā + uttamam → tathottamam; daṇḍaḥ + ca → daṇḍaś ca; dviguṇaḥ + tataḥ → dviguṇastataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (procedures for fines/compensation)
FAQs
It gives legal-technical guidance (vyavahāra-vidyā) on graded punishments: a forger receives a middle-level daṇḍa, while one who provokes quarrels is liable to the highest penalty, along with compensatory payment and an enhanced (doubled) fine.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and jurisprudence—rules for crimes like forgery and social disruption—showing its wide scope as a compendium of governance, ethics, and legal administration.
By prescribing proportionate punishment and restitution, the verse supports dharma through social order and deterrence; preventing deception and needless conflict reduces adharma and the karmic harm that arises from fraud and fomenting disputes.