Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 66
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
आह्वानकारी बध्यः स्यादनाहूतमथाह्वयन् दाण्डिकस्य च यो हस्तादभिमुक्तः पलायते
āhvānakārī badhyaḥ syādanāhūtamathāhvayan dāṇḍikasya ca yo hastādabhimuktaḥ palāyate
जो अधिकाराविना हाक (समन्स) देतो तो बंधनास पात्र आहे; आणि जो न बोलावलेल्या व्यक्तीस बोलावतो तोही. तसेच दंडाधिकाऱ्याच्या हातातून सुटून जो पळतो तो दंडनीय आहे.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma/vyavahara material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Regulates summons authority and custody: punishes unauthorized issuance of summons and penalizes escape after release from an officer’s custody, supporting orderly civic administration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Unauthorized Summons and Escape from Custody: Liabilities","lookup_keywords":["ahvana","anahuta","dandika","palayana","bandhana"],"quick_summary":"Issuing summons without authority or improperly summoning others is punishable by confinement; fleeing after being released from an officer’s hand/custody is also punishable, ensuring procedural discipline."}
Concept: Procedural authority (adhikara) is part of dharma; coercive powers like summons and custody must be regulated to prevent harassment and disorder.
Application: Use authenticated summons (seal/warrant); maintain custody logs and penalties for absconding; prevent private persons from impersonating officials.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Criminal law and civic administration)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A false summoner brandishing a counterfeit warrant is seized; in another moment, a detainee slips away from a constable’s grasp after being released, prompting a chase through the town street.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, town-court setting with an impostor holding a palm-leaf summons, guards binding him, and a second vignette of an escaping man running past lamps and arches, bold outlines and dynamic poses.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, official with gold-embellished staff and seal, counterfeit summons displayed, offender being tied, background showing a fleeing figure, rich gold highlights and temple-like pillars.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional civic scene: sealed summons, officer’s hand releasing a detainee, detainee running, constable pointing, fine linework and calm palette despite action.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling bazaar street with constable and fleeing man, court clerk holding a warrant, architectural depth, detailed garments, narrative realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"disciplinary","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यादनाहूतमथाह्वयन् = syāt anāhūtam atha āhvayan; हस्तादभिमुक्तः = hastāt abhimuktaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (vyavahara: summons, custody, danda)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (legal procedure): rules for improper/unauthorized summoning and the offense of fleeing after release from an officer’s custody.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana includes practical statecraft—here, administrative and criminal-procedure norms (summons, detention, custody, escape), showing its coverage of governance alongside ritual and philosophy.
By discouraging abuse of authority and evasion of lawful custody, it supports dharma-based social order; upholding just procedure is treated as meritorious conduct, while disorderly acts accrue negative karma.