Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 44
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
दाप्यस्तु दशमं भागं बाणिज्यपशुसस्यतः अनिश्चित्य भृतिं यस्तु कारयेत्स महीक्षिता
dāpyastu daśamaṃ bhāgaṃ bāṇijyapaśusasyataḥ aniścitya bhṛtiṃ yastu kārayetsa mahīkṣitā
രാജാവ് വ്യാപാരം, പശുസമ്പത്ത്, കൃഷിഫലം എന്നിവയിൽ നിന്ന് പത്തിലൊന്ന് നികുതിയായി ഈടാക്കണം. എന്നാൽ വേതനം നിശ്ചയിക്കാതെ സേവനം നിർബന്ധിക്കുന്ന ഭരണാധികാരി അന്യായരാജാവാണ്.
Lord Agni (teaching Rajadharma to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दाप्यस्तु = दाप्यः तु; कारयेत्स = कारयेत् सः.
FAQs
It gives practical Rajadharma guidance: the king’s standard levy is one-tenth from commerce, livestock, and crops, and wages must be fixed before ordering work or service.
Beyond theology, it preserves a compact economic-legal policy on taxation and labor regulation—showing the Purana’s coverage of statecraft, revenue administration, and ethical governance.
Just taxation and fair payment are presented as kingly dharma; exploiting labor by not settling wages is adharma that harms the ruler’s merit and legitimacy.