Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 10
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
मासानष्टौ तु महिषी सत्यघातस्य कारिणी दण्डनीया तदर्धन्तु गौस्तदर्धमजाविकं
māsānaṣṭau tu mahiṣī satyaghātasya kāriṇī daṇḍanīyā tadardhantu gaustadardhamajāvikaṃ
ສໍາລັບຄວາມຜິດ «satyaghāta» (ການທໍາລາຍຄວາມຈິງ/ສັດຈະ) ໂທດຄື: ຄວາຍແມ່ ຖືກຍຶດ/ປັບເປັນເວລາ 8 ເດືອນ; ງົວ ປັບເທົ່າກຶ່ງນັ້ນ; ແລະ ແບ້ ຫຼື ແກະ ປັບເທົ່າກຶ່ງຂອງກຶ່ງນັ້ນອີກ.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purāṇa’s rajadharma section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Setting graded fines (in livestock/time-equivalents) for the offense of satyaghata, enabling consistent sentencing and restitution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Fines in Livestock for Satyaghata (Violation of Truth)","lookup_keywords":["satyaghata","danda","mahishi","gau","ajavika"],"quick_summary":"For satyaghata, the fine is graded: a she-buffalo for eight months; a cow at half; a goat/sheep at half again—establishing proportional penalties by value."}
Concept: Satya as foundational virtue; its violation warrants tangible penalty to restore trust and order.
Application: Treat perjury/fraud as serious; calibrate fines to economic capacity/value to ensure deterrence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: penalties for offenses)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court scene where a person is found guilty of satyaghata; livestock fines are assessed—buffalo, cow, then goat/sheep—shown as graded restitution under the king’s authority.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of dharma-court: judge-king seated, accused with folded hands, attendants leading a she-buffalo, then a cow, then a goat/sheep as graded fines; bold outlines, warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a king dispensing justice with gold-leaf ornamentation; foreground shows the three animals symbolizing the fine scale; rich textiles and temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting instructional chart-like scene: three animals aligned with ‘eight months’, ‘half’, ‘half again’; scribe recording; clean composition for legal pedagogy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature courtroom with meticulous detail: officials, registers, accused, and animals brought as fine; architectural pavilion, nuanced expressions, naturalistic rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मासानष्टौ → मासान् + अष्टौ; तदर्धन्तु → तत्-अर्धम् + तु; गौस्तदर्धमजाविकं → गौः + तत्-अर्धम् + अजा-आविकम् (sandhi: visarga/avagraha and vowel coalescence).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (penalties and vyavahara)
FAQs
It teaches daṇḍa-vidhi (juridical assessment of penalties) by grading fines using livestock value—buffalo, cow, then goat/sheep—linked to the offense termed satyaghāta (violation of truth).
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical rajadharma: measurable fines, proportional scaling, and administrative justice—features typical of dharmaśāstra-style legal material.
By penalizing satyaghāta, the text upholds satya (truth) as a core dharmic virtue; enforcing truthfulness is presented as essential for social order and for reducing the karmic harm caused by deceit.