Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 20
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
नष्टापहृतमासाद्य हर्तारं ग्राहयेन्नरम् देशकालातिपत्तौ वा गृहीत्वा स्वयमर्पयेत्
naṣṭāpahṛtamāsādya hartāraṃ grāhayennaram deśakālātipattau vā gṛhītvā svayamarpayet
हरवलेले किंवा चोरीस गेलेले द्रव्य सापडल्यास मनुष्याने चोराला पकडून द्यावे; किंवा देश-काल (न्यायप्रक्रियेची संधी) निघून गेल्यास ते जप्त करून स्वतःच अधिकार्याकडे/मालकाकडे सुपूर्द करावे।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Rajadharma/Vyavahāra section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Prescribes civic duty and legal procedure upon finding lost/stolen goods: apprehend the thief through authorities; if procedural time/place has lapsed, seize the goods and deliver them to rightful owner/authority to avoid complicity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Found Stolen Property: Apprehension and Handing Over","lookup_keywords":["naṣṭa apahṛta","recovery procedure","apprehend thief","hand over property","deśa-kāla"],"quick_summary":"When one encounters lost or stolen property, one should cause the thief to be apprehended. If formal procedure cannot be timely pursued, one should secure the item and personally hand it over to the rightful owner or competent authority."}
Concept: Non-complicity and protection of others’ property are civic dharma; lawful process is preferred, but safeguarding and surrendering property prevents adharma when procedure is obstructed by time/place.
Application: If you find suspected stolen goods: notify authorities, help identify/apprehend the thief; if delay risks loss or disorder, secure the goods and deliver to owner/official record-keeper.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra: civil and criminal procedure, theft and recovery of property)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A man discovers stolen goods; he points out the thief to guards; later he carries the recovered item to the owner or a court official for formal handover.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; roadside scene with a found bundle; guards seizing a thief; second vignette of respectful handover to an official with palm-leaf register; bold colors and clear gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting; dramatic apprehension with gold-highlighted uniforms and ornaments; then a ceremonial handover of the recovered property to the owner before a seated authority.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; step-by-step instructional panels: (1) find property, (2) identify thief, (3) apprehend, (4) hand over; fine lines, soft palette, clear sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; urban street with guards capturing a thief; detailed depiction of the recovered object; subsequent court/house handover scene with scribes recording the return."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नष्टापहृतमासाद्य = नष्ट-अपहृतम् + आसाद्य; ग्राहयेन्नरम् = ग्राहयेत् + नरम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (vyavahara: theft, recovery, procedure)
FAQs
It gives a rule of vyavahāra (legal procedure): on finding lost/stolen goods, one should get the thief apprehended, or if formal jurisdictional timing is not available, seize the item and deliver it to the rightful claimant/authority.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves dharmaśāstric governance—practical civil administration on property recovery, policing, and restitution—showing its coverage of law alongside ritual, theology, and other sciences.
Acting to restore stolen property and restrain theft aligns with dharma, reducing complicity in adharma and supporting social order; it is treated as ethically purifying compared to benefiting from another’s loss.