Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 1
Divya-pramāṇa-kathana
Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे व्यवहारो नाम त्रिपञ्चाशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ चतुःपञ्चाशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः दिव्यप्रमाणकथनं अग्निर् उवाच तपस्विनो दानशीलाः कुलीनाः सत्यवादिनः धर्मप्रधाना ऋजवः पुत्रवन्तो धनान्विताः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe vyavahāro nāma tripañcāśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha catuḥpañcāśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ divyapramāṇakathanaṃ agnir uvāca tapasvino dānaśīlāḥ kulīnāḥ satyavādinaḥ dharmapradhānā ṛjavaḥ putravanto dhanānvitāḥ
Demikianlah, dalam Agni Mahāpurāṇa, tamatlah bab ke-253 yang bernama “Vyavahāra” (Tatacara Perundangan). Kini bermulalah bab ke-254: “Huraian tentang Bukti Ilahi (Divya-pramāṇa).” Agni bersabda: “Mereka yang layak dijadikan sandaran ialah para pertapa, yang berjiwa dermawan, berdarah keturunan baik, berkata benar, mengutamakan Dharma, lurus budi, mempunyai anak lelaki, dan berharta.”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Chapter colophon and transition to divya-pramāṇa (ordeals/divine proofs); lists qualities of reliable persons/witness-like dependables for legal-religious procedures.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Divya-pramāṇa Prastāva: Qualities of the Reliable (Āpta)","lookup_keywords":["divya-pramāṇa","āpta","satyavādin","kulīna","vyavahāra chapter colophon"],"quick_summary":"Marks the end of the Vyavahāra chapter and introduces divine proofs; identifies trustworthy persons as ascetic, charitable, well-born, truthful, dharma-centered, straightforward, with family stability and resources."}
Concept: Epistemic and moral fitness: truthfulness, dharma-orientation, and social stability as grounds for reliability in proof and procedure.
Application: Selecting persons for testimony/ritual ordeals: prefer those with listed virtues; treat as higher credibility in disputes.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra / Legal Procedure; Divya-pramāṇa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher addresses sages; a manuscript colophon scene shifts to a courtroom/ritual setting where qualified, truthful elders stand as reliable persons for proof.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni with radiant aura teaching seated ṛṣis, then a secondary vignette of elders with folded hands, earthy palette, temple-wall composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Agni enthroned with gold halo and flames rendered in gold work, sages in reverent posture, ornate borders suggesting chapter transition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clean instructional composition: Agni speaking, list-like arrangement of virtuous figures (ascetic, donor, truthful man), subtle colors and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly with Agni as luminous figure, scribes and palm-leaf manuscripts, dignified elders representing trustworthy persons"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye = iti + āgneye; dviguṇībhūta etc not in this verse; 'dhyāyaḥ = adhyāyaḥ with avagraha after -tamo; agnir uvāca = agniḥ + uvāca; dhana-anvitāḥ = dhana + anvitāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 253 (Vyavahāra); Agni Purana 254 (Divya-pramāṇa—ordeals and proofs, forthcoming)
FAQs
It introduces divya-pramāṇa—“divine proofs” (ordeals) used as juridical evidence—and lists the character-qualifications of persons considered reliable for dharma-based adjudication.
By shifting from a chapter on vyavahāra (court procedure) into a chapter on evidentiary methods (divya-pramāṇa), it shows the text’s coverage of governance and legal theory alongside ritual and theology.
It frames justice as a dharma-centered act: truthfulness, austerity, charity, and uprightness are treated as moral prerequisites for reliable judgment, aligning legal outcomes with righteous karma.