Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 33
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
वसानस्त्रीन् पणान् दण्ड्यो नेजकस्तु परांशुकम् विक्रयावक्रयाधानयाचितेषु पणान् दश
vasānastrīn paṇān daṇḍyo nejakastu parāṃśukam vikrayāvakrayādhānayāciteṣu paṇān daśa
Sesiapa yang memakai atau menggunakan harta orang lain hendaklah didenda tiga paṇa; tetapi bagi tukang basuh (nejaka) yang berurusan dengan pakaian yang lebih mulia/berkualiti tinggi, ada ketetapan khusus. Dalam hal jual beli, jual semula (beli balik yang tidak wajar), gadaian/simpanan, dan pinjaman atas permintaan, dendanya sepuluh paṇa.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in rajadharma/vyavahāra topics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Sets graded monetary fines for misuse of others’ garments and for irregularities in commercial dealings (sale, resale/buy-back, pledge/deposit, and solicited borrowing), guiding magistrates and guilds in routine adjudication.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Fines for garment-misuse and irregular transactions","lookup_keywords":["paṇa-daṇḍa","vasana-paribhoga","nejaka (washerman)","vikraya-avakraya","ādhāna-yācita"],"quick_summary":"Unauthorized use of another’s clothing incurs a small fine; specified commercial irregularities attract a higher standard fine, with special note for washermen handling superior garments."}
Concept: Daṇḍa as deterrence to protect property rights and transactional trust (vyavahāra).
Application: Use fixed fines to discourage petty appropriation and stabilize market conduct; apply differentiated penalties by context/occupation.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Governance, Law, and Judicial Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court with a judge assessing a dispute: a person caught wearing another’s garment; a washerman presenting a fine cloth; merchants disputing sale/resale and a pledged cloth bundle, with a clerk recording paṇa fines.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, flat vibrant colors, royal sabha scene with dharmāsana, judge and scribe, washerman holding a superior garment, merchants with cloth bundles and pledge tokens, traditional ornaments, minimal perspective, temple-mural aesthetics.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gilded court setting with ornate arch, judge on throne with gold embellishments, washerman and merchants presenting garments and pledge bundle, rich textiles, gold leaf highlights on jewelry and borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, refined linework, instructional court tableau: labeled objects (garment, pledge bundle, sale ledger), calm judge and clerk counting paṇas, soft palette and delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed bazaar-court hybrid: merchants, washerman, fine textiles, ledger and coin purse, judge with attendants, intricate patterns, architectural backdrop, naturalistic faces and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vasānastrīn → vasānaḥ trīn; nejakastu → nejakaḥ tu; vikrayāvakrayādhānayāciteṣu → vikraya avakraya ādhāna yāciteṣu (समुच्चय-समास/द्वन्द्ववत् समाहारः); परांशुकम् as given.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (Vyavahāra/daṇḍa sections on theft, deposits, sales, and fines)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (practical legal procedure): fixed monetary fines (paṇa) for misuse of garments and for irregularities in sale, re-sale, pledge/deposit, and requested borrowing.
By detailing specific commercial and property penalties, it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond theology—preserving applied governance, courtroom norms, and economic regulation alongside ritual and spiritual topics.
It frames ethical commerce and respect for others’ property as dharma; enforcing fines curbs adharma (dishonest dealing), reducing social harm and the negative karmic burden arising from exploitation and deceit.