Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 7
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
तौ नृपेण ह्य् अधर्मज्ञौ दाप्यौ तद्द्विगुणं दमं कूटसाक्ष्यन्तु कुर्वाणांस्त्रीन् वर्णांश् च प्रदापयेत्
tau nṛpeṇa hy adharmajñau dāpyau taddviguṇaṃ damaṃ kūṭasākṣyantu kurvāṇāṃstrīn varṇāṃś ca pradāpayet
Kedua-duanya itu, yang mengetahui ketidakbenaran (adharma), hendaklah diperintahkan oleh raja membayar denda dua kali ganda jumlah itu. Adapun mereka yang melakukan kesaksian palsu (bukti rekaan), dalam tiga varṇa, hendaklah dihukum menurut kelas masing-masing.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Deterring collusion and perjury: doubling fines for culpable parties and prescribing punishment for fabricated testimony with varṇa-sensitive gradation (as per classical legal norms).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Double fine for culpable pair; punishment for false testimony (kūṭa-sākṣya) by varṇa","lookup_keywords":["kūṭa-sākṣya","dvi-guṇa dama","nṛpa daṇḍa","sākṣya (testimony)","varṇa-daṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"Orders the king to impose double fines on two culpable parties and to punish false witnesses, with penalties differentiated across the three varṇas according to prevailing dharma-legal conventions."}
Concept: Sākṣya-śuddhi (purity of testimony) is foundational to justice; perjury is a direct assault on dharma and must be strongly deterred.
Application: Courts should treat false evidence as a serious offense, escalating penalties and preventing systemic corruption in adjudication.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Vyavahāra (Dharmaśāstra: legal procedure and punishments)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: dharmic (samanya)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king-judge orders punishment: two offenders pay double fines; a false witness is confronted by scribes and honest witnesses; a balance scale and sealed documents symbolize evidence and truth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic judicial scene with the king pointing in judgment, coin heaps doubled, a false witness shown with a darkened aura contrasted with truthful witnesses, stylized documents and seals, bold outlines and rhythmic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, regal courtroom with gold leaf on throne and judicial emblems, doubled coin heaps in foreground, false witness kneeling, attendants holding palm-leaf records, ornate pillars and arch framing the moral gravity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear procedural illustration: labels for 'dvi-guṇa dama' and 'kūṭa-sākṣya', judge, scribe, witness line-up, gentle colors and precise detailing of documents and seals.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, finely detailed court with multiple figures, false witness being cross-examined, doubled fine being counted, intricate architecture and textiles, careful depiction of written testimony and seals."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्य् → हि; तद्द्विगुणं → तत्-द्विगुणम्; कूटसाक्ष्यन्तु → कूटसाक्ष्यम् तु; कुर्वाणांस्त्रीन् → कुर्वाणान् त्रीन्; वर्णांश् → वर्णान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226.5–226.6 (false claims/false statements); Agni Purana rājadharma sections on daṇḍa and vyavahāra
FAQs
It teaches vyavahāra-vidyā (juridical procedure): the king must impose a doubled fine in a specified case, and must punish kūṭasākṣya (false testimony) with penalties graded by varṇa.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and legal norms—court evidence, witness integrity, and penal policy—showing it functions as a compendium of governance and Dharmaśāstra.
False testimony is treated as a grave adharma that corrupts justice; enforcing strict penalties protects dharma, reduces collective sin in the realm, and preserves the king’s role as upholder of moral order.