Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 27
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
प्रतिग्रहः प्रकाशः स्यात् स्थावरस्य विशेषतः देयं प्रतिश्रुतञ्चैव दत्वा नापहरेत् पुनः
pratigrahaḥ prakāśaḥ syāt sthāvarasya viśeṣataḥ deyaṃ pratiśrutañcaiva datvā nāpaharet punaḥ
ദാനം സ്വീകരിക്കൽ പരസ്യമായി വേണം, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് സ്ഥാവരസ്വത്തിന്റെ കാര്യത്തിൽ. ദാനമായി വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്തതു നിർബന്ധമായി നൽകണം; ഒരിക്കൽ നൽകി കഴിഞ്ഞാൽ പിന്നെ തിരികെ പിടിക്കരുത്।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Agni Purana’s standard discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Legal-ethical protocol for gifting: public acceptance, special care for immovable property transfers, and irrevocability after valid donation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pratigraha-prakāśa and dāna-apahāra-niṣedha","lookup_keywords":["pratigraha","prakāśa (public)","sthāvara (immovable)","pratiśruta-dāna","apahāra (retraction)"],"quick_summary":"Gifts—especially land/immovables—should be accepted openly with transparency. Promised gifts must be fulfilled, and once given should not be taken back."}
Concept: Dharma in transactions depends on satya (truthfulness) and lokaprasiddhi (public verifiability), preventing later dispute and adharma.
Application: Use witnesses/records for land gifts; avoid secret transfers; treat promises as binding; do not reclaim donated property.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: gifts, property, and legal ethics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A public gifting ceremony for land: donor and recipient before witnesses, boundary markers visible, with a scribe recording the transfer; emphasis on openness and irrevocability.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized village boundary stones and palm trees, donor pouring water (dāna-udaka) before witnesses, scribe with palm-leaf, flat iconic figures, decorative frame.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on ceremonial vessels and jewelry, donor and recipient seated with witnesses in rows, land deed scroll highlighted, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional tableau: witnesses, scribe, boundary map, donor handing deed, fine lines and soft colors, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed legal ceremony with qalam-wielding scribe, multiple witnesses, landscape with boundary markers, realistic textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pratiśrutañcaiva → pratiśrutam ca eva; nāpaharet → na apaharet.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (vyavahāra and dāna rules); Agni Purana rājadharma passages on adjudication and evidence
FAQs
It teaches a legal-ethical rule of vyavahāra: gifts—especially immovable property—should be accepted publicly (with transparency/witnesses), and promised gifts must be fulfilled and not reclaimed after donation.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharmaśāstric guidance on property transfer, enforceability of promises, and social safeguards like public acceptance—showing its coverage of governance and civil conduct.
Keeping one’s pledged gift and not taking back what is given upholds satya (truthfulness) and dāna-dharma; reclaiming a gift is treated as ethically blameworthy and undermines the merit (puṇya) of charity.