Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 26
Adhyaya 222 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharmāḥ): Duties of Kings (Administrative Order, Protection, and Revenue Ethics
तरेषु दासदोषेण नष्टं दासांस्तु दापयेत् शूकधान्येषु षड्भागं शिम्बिधान्ये तथाष्टमं
tareṣu dāsadoṣeṇa naṣṭaṃ dāsāṃstu dāpayet śūkadhānyeṣu ṣaḍbhāgaṃ śimbidhānye tathāṣṭamaṃ
Jika dalam urusan penyeberangan (feri/perahu) berlaku kerugian kerana kesalahan hamba/pekerja, maka hamba itu hendaklah dipaksa membayar ganti rugi. Bagi bijirin berbulir (serealia), bahagiannya ialah satu perenam; dan bagi bijirin kekacang, satu perlapan.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Assign liability for transport losses at ferries when caused by a servant’s fault, and standardize compensation shares for different grain classes to reduce disputes.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Liability for ferry-loss due to servant fault; grain-based assessment shares","lookup_keywords":["tara","dāsa-doṣa","dāpayet","ṣaḍ-bhāga","śūka-dhānya","śimbi-dhānya"],"quick_summary":"If loss at a crossing occurs due to a servant’s negligence, the servant must compensate. For cereals the assessed share is one-sixth; for legumes one-eighth, indicating differentiated rates by commodity class."}
Concept: Accountability (doṣa) determines liability; differentiated assessment reflects proportional justice.
Application: In contracts/transport, record fault and impose restitution; classify commodities for fair, predictable rates.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Civil Law, Contracts, Damages, Slavery/Servitude Regulations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At a river crossing, a cargo loss occurs; officials investigate and determine the servant’s fault, ordering restitution. Nearby, granaries show separate heaps of cereals and legumes with marked fractional shares (1/6 and 1/8).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, river ferry with overturned basket, royal officer pointing to a negligent servant, scribes noting compensation; stylized granary with labeled heaps of śūka-dhānya and śimbi-dhānya, bold outlines and ornamental frame.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents on official insignia, dramatic but orderly ferry inquiry scene, separate grain heaps with gilded fraction markers, rich decorative motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: sequence of inquiry, fault-finding, restitution order; precise depiction of grain categories and fractional shares, fine lines and muted elegance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed riverbank commerce, officials conducting inquiry, servant standing contrite, merchants present; granary scene with carefully rendered sacks and fractional annotations in cartouches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dāsān + tu → dāsāṃstu (anusvāra by sandhi); tathā + aṣṭamam → tathāṣṭamam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 222 adjacent rules on śulka, kara, and daṇḍa; vyavahāra topics on damages and liability
FAQs
This verse imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (practical civil law): how to assign liability and calculate compensation fractions for losses caused by a servant/slave in ferrying/crossing-related transactions, distinguishing cereals (1/6) and legumes (1/8).
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves administrative and commercial jurisprudence—rules for transport-related loss, labor responsibility, and commodity-specific penalty rates—showing its coverage of governance and economic life alongside ritual and myth.
By enforcing proportionate restitution and responsibility, the verse supports dharma in social dealings—reducing harm, discouraging negligence, and promoting ethical conduct that aligns with karmic accountability.