Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 34
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
स तस्योत्पाद्य तुष्टिन्तु राज्ञे दद्यात्ततो दमं यस्तु रज्जुं घटं कूपाद्धरेच्छिन्द्याच्च तां प्रपां
sa tasyotpādya tuṣṭintu rājñe dadyāttato damaṃ yastu rajjuṃ ghaṭaṃ kūpāddharecchindyācca tāṃ prapāṃ
ആദ്യം പീഡിതനെ അവന്റെ വസ്തു തിരികെ നൽകി തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തണം; തുടർന്ന് രാജാവിന് ദണ്ഡം (പിഴ) നൽകണം. കിണറ്റിൽ നിന്ന് കയർയും കുടവും എടുത്തുകളയുകയോ പൊതുപ്രപാ (പാനീയസ്ഥലം) മുറിച്ച് നശിപ്പിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ ശിക്ഷാർഹൻ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, the Agni Purana’s common dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Procedure: first compensate the victim, then levy state fine; protect public water infrastructure (wells, ropes, pots, drinking sheds).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Restitution to victim and fine to king; penalties for damaging well-gear and prapā","lookup_keywords":["pratyarpana","rājadaṇḍa","kūpa-rajjū","ghaṭa","prapā"],"quick_summary":"The offender must satisfy the injured party by restoration/compensation, then pay a separate fine to the king; tampering with well equipment or damaging a public water-shed is punishable."}
Concept: Two-tier justice: private redress plus public penalty; safeguarding common goods is a royal duty.
Application: In governance, separate victim compensation from state deterrent fines; prioritize maintenance and legal protection of water infrastructure.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Vyavahāra (Governance, fines, and public welfare rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A well with rope and pot being stolen; nearby a public prapā (drinking shed) is shown damaged; in the court, the offender returns items to the victim and then pays a fine to the king.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split narrative: left a village well with rope and pot, right a prapā pavilion, center royal court with king ordering restitution then fine, bold outlines and traditional costumes","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate king and court with gold detailing; foreground shows well rope and pot as emblematic objects; prapā pavilion rendered with decorative pillars","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic illustration of well apparatus (rajjū, ghaṭa) and prapā structure, with a calm courtroom scene and clear object emphasis","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed village well scene with figures, architectural prapā pavilion, then court scene with accounting of fine, delicate palette and fine brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tasya + utpādya → tasyotpādya (अ + उ → ओ); dadyāt + tataḥ → dadyāttataḥ (त्-आगम/व्यञ्जनसन्धि); kūpāt + haret → kūpāddharet (त् + ह → द्ध); haret + chindyāt → harecchindyāt (त् + छ → च्छ); chindyāt + ca → chindyācca (त् + च → च्च)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (public welfare offenses; theft and damage)
FAQs
It teaches vyavahāra/daṇḍanīti procedure: first compensate and satisfy the affected party, then pay a state-imposed fine; it also criminalizes tampering with public water infrastructure (well-rope/pot and prapā).
Alongside theology and ritual, it preserves practical governance and civic-law norms—especially protection of shared utilities like wells and public water-stations—showing the Purana’s coverage of social administration.
Damaging or stealing from a well or prapā harms public welfare and obstructs charity; the mandated restitution and fine function as expiation by restoring social order and reducing the karmic fault of injuring the community.