Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 10
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
तावुभौ चौरवच्छास्यौ दण्ड्यौ वा द्विगुणं दम अज्ञानाद्यः पुमान् कुर्यात् परद्रव्यस्य विक्रयं
tāvubhau cauravacchāsyau daṇḍyau vā dviguṇaṃ dama ajñānādyaḥ pumān kuryāt paradravyasya vikrayaṃ
ആ രണ്ടുപേരും കള്ളന്മാരെപ്പോലെ ശിക്ഷാർഹർ; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട മൂല്യത്തിന്റെ ഇരട്ട പിഴ അടയ്ക്കണം. അജ്ഞാനത്താൽ മറ്റൊരാളുടെ സ്വത്ത് വിൽക്കുന്ന പുരുഷനും അതേവിധം ശിക്ഷയ്ക്ക് വിധേയനാണ്.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Fraud/theft adjudication: treating deposit-destruction and false claims as theft-like offenses; penalizing unauthorized sale of another’s property, even if pleaded as ignorance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Theft-equivalent punishment for deposit fraud; penalty for selling another’s property","lookup_keywords":["chora","dviguṇa-daṇḍa","paradravya-vikraya","ajñāna","vyavahāra"],"quick_summary":"Certain deposit-related wrongs are punished like theft, or by a double-value fine. Selling another’s property—even if claimed to be from ignorance—incurs liability under these rules."}
Concept: Property rights and trust are protected by treating certain frauds as theft; ignorance does not automatically absolve harm in transactional wrongs.
Application: In disputes over unauthorized sale, assess ownership and intent; impose theft-grade punishment or double-value fine to restore order and deter repetition.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Vyavahāra (Governance, Law, and Judicial Procedure)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marketplace dispute brought to court: a man has sold another’s property; the true owner protests; the judge orders theft-like punishment or double fine; scribes compute the doubled value.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, market scene with goods and a sale gesture, then a court vignette with the king/judge, a ledger showing doubled amount, strong narrative panels, bold colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central judge with gold arch, merchant and owner on either side, a displayed item (property) between them, gold accents on scales and coin stacks, formal symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of valuation and doubling, scribe writing, calm but firm judge, detailed textiles and subtle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling bazaar with transaction, then a refined court interior, expressive faces, precise objects (goods, coins), delicate border work"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तावुभौ → तौ + उभौ; चौरवच्छास्यौ → चौरवत् + शास्यौ; अज्ञानाद्यः → अज्ञानात् + यः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (theft, fines, deposits, contracts)
FAQs
This verse teaches vyavahāra-vidyā (juridical procedure): the rule that unauthorized sale of another’s property is treated as theft and punished either as a thief or by a double fine.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a dharma-and-governance manual alongside its ritual and theological material, preserving practical civil-law norms on property offences and state-imposed penalties.
Appropriating or disposing of another’s property is adharma; even when done “in ignorance,” it carries culpability and requires rectification through punishment/restitution, reinforcing accountability and social order (dharma).