Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 80
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
द्विनेत्रभेदिनो राजद्विष्टादेशकृतस् तथा विप्रत्वेन च शूद्रस्य जीवतो ऽष्टशतो दमः
dvinetrabhedino rājadviṣṭādeśakṛtas tathā vipratvena ca śūdrasya jīvato 'ṣṭaśato damaḥ
ಎರಡು ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ನಾಶಮಾಡುವವನು, ರಾಜನಿಗೆ ದ್ವೇಷವಿರುವ ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿ/ಕಾರಕನಾಗಿ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಮಾಡುವವನು, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣತ್ವವನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ ಬದುಕುವ ಶೂದ್ರನು—ಇವರಿಗೆ ಎಂಟುನೂರು (ಪಣ) ದಂಡ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Assign a specific monetary penalty (800 paṇas) to three offense-types: grievous bodily harm (blinding), hostile agency/espionage, and fraudulent caste-occupation impersonation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Eight-hundred paṇa fine: blinding, hostile agency, Śūdra impersonating Brahmin livelihood","lookup_keywords":["dvi-netra-bheda","raja-dvishta-desha","duta/agent offense","vipratva-abhimana","ashta-shata-dama"],"quick_summary":"The verse standardizes an 800-paṇa fine for severe harms to persons, threats to the state through hostile agency, and social fraud via false Brahmin status for livelihood."}
Concept: Daṇḍa as proportional response to bodily harm, state endangerment, and varṇa-āśrama deception.
Application: Use fixed fines to deter grievous injury and hostile collaboration; treat occupational/caste impersonation as a punishable economic fraud.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Penal law and fines)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Judicial assessment of three offenders: one accused of blinding a victim, one acting as an agent in hostile territory, and one masquerading as a Brahmin for livelihood; treasurer notes an 800-paṇa fine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych: injured victim with bandaged eyes, a furtive messenger at a border outpost, and a false ascetic/Brahmin figure exposed in court; king and accountants in stylized court setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold coin bags labeled ‘800’, king on throne, victim with covered eyes, messenger with travel satchel, impostor with sacred thread being questioned; rich gold detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting didactic layout: three vignettes with captions, fine linework showing injury, border espionage scene, and courtroom exposure of imposture; emphasis on clarity and procedure.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature courtroom with accountants and coin scales; a blinded complainant, a captured agent with letters, and an impostor in Brahmin attire; intricate textiles and architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"judicial","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जीवतोऽ = जीवतः + (अ); अष्टशतो = अष्ट-शतः (dvigu).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (fines and offense gradations)
FAQs
This verse imparts danda-nīti (penal jurisprudence): it specifies an 800-paṇa fine for severe bodily harm (blinding), political offenses involving hostile territory, and varṇa-impersonation used as a livelihood.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft—codified fines for crimes against persons, the state, and social order—showing its coverage of governance and legal administration.
By prescribing proportional penalties for harm, disloyalty, and deceitful identity, the text frames justice as dharmic regulation: wrongdoing creates demerit, and lawful punishment functions as societal purification and restraint of adharma.