Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 67
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
हीनः पुरुषकारेण तद् दद्याद्दाण्डिको धनं
hīnaḥ puruṣakāreṇa tad dadyāddāṇḍiko dhanaṃ
സ്വകാര്യശ്രമംകൊണ്ട് പരിഹാരം ചെയ്യാൻ അശക്തനായാൽ, ശിക്ഷാർഹൻ ആ തുക ധനമായി നൽകണം; കർമംകൊണ്ട് നൽകാൻ കഴിയാത്തപ്പോൾ ദ്രവ്യമായി പ്രതിദാനം ചെയ്യണം.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma/vyavahāra section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guides enforcement of compensation/fines when the offender cannot make restitution through labor—substituting monetary payment to satisfy liability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Substitution of Monetary Payment When Labor Restitution Is Impossible","lookup_keywords":["purushakara","hina","dandika","dhana","pratikara"],"quick_summary":"When a person lacks the capacity to discharge liability through personal effort, the punishable party must pay the due amount in money, ensuring restitution is still realized."}
Concept: Dharma in governance aims at effective restitution; penalties adapt to capacity while preserving accountability.
Application: Use ability-to-pay principles: if labor restitution is infeasible, levy monetary compensation/fine to meet the adjudicated amount.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Vyavahāra (Governance, Law, and Judicial Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A judge assesses an offender’s inability to perform labor restitution; the clerk records a monetary fine, and coins are weighed and paid into the treasury as compensation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, court with judge and scribe, offender showing empty hands, treasurer weighing coins on a balance, stylized architecture and bold color blocks, calm authoritative mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, treasury payment scene with gold-highlighted coin piles and balance scale, judge seated under ornate arch, scribe with palm-leaf ledger, rich jewel tones and gold embossing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic administrative scene: assessment of capacity, ledger entry, coin weighing, restrained elegance, fine detailing of tools (balance, seal, inkpot).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, revenue-office interior with clerks, scales, coin bags, offender paying fine, detailed textiles and shelves, naturalistic faces and perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"measured","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दद्याद्दाण्डिको = dadyāt dāṇḍikaḥ (final -t before voiced d-).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (fines/compensation principles in vyavahara)
FAQs
It gives a rule of legal practice (vyavahāra): when restitution cannot be made through personal labor/effort, the offender must discharge liability through monetary payment (fine/compensation).
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical statecraft and jurisprudence—here, a concrete standard for converting liability into monetary payment within daṇḍanīti (penal policy).
By prescribing prompt and proportional repayment, the text frames justice as dharma: settling harm through rightful compensation reduces social disorder and mitigates the offender’s karmic burden through accountable conduct.