Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 25
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
पणानेकशफे दद्याच्चतुरः पञ्च मानुषे महिषोष्ट्रगवां द्वौ द्वौ पादं पादमजाविके
paṇānekaśaphe dadyāccaturaḥ pañca mānuṣe mahiṣoṣṭragavāṃ dvau dvau pādaṃ pādamajāvike
ഒറ്റ കുളമ്പുള്ള മൃഗത്തിന് (അടിസ്ഥാനം) ഒരു പണത്തിന് നാല് നൽകണം; മനുഷ്യനു അഞ്ച്. മഹിഷം, ഒട്ടകം, പശു—ഇവയ്ക്ക് രണ്ടെണ്ണം വീതം; ആട്, ചെമ്മരി—ഓരോന്നിനും കാൽഭാഗം (പാദം) നൽകണം.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Setting standardized valuation/fine multipliers for different beings/animals using the paṇa as a base unit—useful for compensation schedules, penalties, and legal assessment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Paṇa-Based Valuation Multipliers for Humans and Livestock","lookup_keywords":["pana valuation","fine schedule","livestock rates","human valuation","ekaśapha"],"quick_summary":"A graded schedule assigns multipliers over a base paṇa for different categories (single-hoof animals, humans, buffalo/camel/cow, goats/sheep), enabling consistent fines and compensation."}
Concept: Normative quantification in governance: dharma operationalized through measurable schedules for fines/compensation.
Application: Use fixed tables for penalties to reduce arbitrariness; keep local conversion/coin standards consistent for fair adjudication.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Vyavahara (Fines, compensation, and legal valuation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe in a court or revenue office writes a valuation table: single-hoof animals, human, buffalo/camel/cow, goat/sheep, with corresponding paṇa multipliers; animals are shown in rows as exemplars.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized animals in a row (horse/donkey as ekaśapha, buffalo, camel, cow, goat, sheep) beside a seated scribe with palm-leaf manuscript showing numbers, warm earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-accented ledger scene with royal accountant, animals depicted iconically with ornate harnesses, coin stacks indicating multipliers, rich decorative border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional chart-like composition, animals labeled in Sanskrit, scribe with stylus and manuscript, emphasis on clarity and proportion","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed revenue office with clerk and scales, animals rendered naturalistically in small vignettes, fine calligraphy-like numerals for paṇa rates"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Abhogi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पणानेकशफे = पणान् + एकशफे; दद्याच्चतुरः = दद्यात् + चतुरः; पादमजाविके = पादम् + अजाविके.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (fines and compensation schedules)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (practical jurisprudence): a schedule for monetary valuation/fines (in paṇas) differentiated by category—humans, cattle-class animals, and small livestock.
Beyond theology, it preserves administrative and legal norms—rates of compensation/penalty by species—showing the Purana’s coverage of governance, economics, and civil law alongside ritual and myth.
By prescribing standardized restitution, it supports dharma through fair redress and restraint of harm; just compensation is treated as a means to reduce wrongdoing and its karmic consequences in society.