Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 74
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
न्यूनं वाप्यधिकं वापि लिखेद्यो राजशासनम् पारदारिकचौरं वा मुञ्चतो दण्ड उत्तमः
nyūnaṃ vāpyadhikaṃ vāpi likhedyo rājaśāsanam pāradārikacauraṃ vā muñcato daṇḍa uttamaḥ
രാജശാസനം കുറച്ചോ കൂട്ടിയോ എഴുതി മാറ്റുന്നവനും, പരസ്ത്രീഗാമിയെയോ കള്ളനെയോ വിട്ടയക്കുന്നവനും—ഇവർക്കു പരമോന്നത ദണ്ഡം വിധിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vashistha, in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Administrative control: integrity of royal documentation and judicial enforcement; punishing forgery/alteration of edicts and corrupt release of criminals.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Highest punishment for tampering with royal edicts or releasing major offenders","lookup_keywords":["rajashasana","likhed","nyuna-adhika","paradarika","chaura"],"quick_summary":"Any omission/addition in a royal order, or illicit release of an adulterer or thief, is treated as a grave state offence warranting the highest punishment."}
Concept: Rājadharma depends on truthful command (śāsana) and impartial enforcement; document tampering and corrupt release undermine the realm.
Application: Implement secure drafting/sealing, audit scribes, and penalize collusion to preserve trust in governance.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Law, and Judicial Procedure)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe alters a sealed royal edict; a judge discovers the discrepancy; another official secretly releases a chained thief—both brought before the king for severe sentencing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel narrative: left—scribe scraping palm-leaf and rewriting royal order; right—king’s court exposing the fraud, guards presenting the culprit, bold outlines and flat color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate court with gold leaf, palm-leaf manuscript and royal seal emphasized, king gesturing in judgment, corrupt official shown with guilty posture, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed depiction of palm-leaf writing tools (stylus, ink), seal, and prison keys; didactic arrangement showing ‘omission/addition’ as marked lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous manuscript desk scene with scribal tools, then a prison doorway with released thief; court scene with expressive faces and fine architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"authoritative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाप्यधिकं = वा अपि अधिकम्; वापि = वा अपि; लिखेद्यो = लिखेत् यः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (Rajadharma: judicial procedure, officers’ duties, punishments)
FAQs
It teaches rāja-śāsana-lekhya discipline in governance: royal edicts must not be altered (no omission/addition), and judicial officers must not unlawfully release serious offenders; both are treated as grave legal violations warranting severe punishment.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft—document integrity, court accountability, and danda-nīti—showing it functions as a compendium of governance and legal administration alongside religious instruction.
Tampering with lawful royal authority or enabling crime is portrayed as a heavy adharma that harms social order; upholding truthful records and just punishment supports dharma and reduces collective sin arising from injustice.