Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 22
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
आगमेनोपभोगेन नष्टं भाव्यमतो ऽन्यथा पञ्चबन्धो दमस्तस्य राज्ञे तेनाप्यभाविते
āgamenopabhogena naṣṭaṃ bhāvyamato 'nyathā pañcabandho damastasya rājñe tenāpyabhāvite
ଅନ୍ୟାୟ ଅର୍ଜନ (ଆଗମ) କିମ୍ବା ଦୁରୁପଯୋଗ (ଉପଭୋଗ) ଦ୍ୱାରା ଯାହା ନଷ୍ଟ/ହରାଯାଏ, ତାହା ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟର୍ପଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ନହେଲେ ଅପରାଧୀକୁ ପଞ୍ଚବନ୍ଧ (ପାଞ୍ଚ ପ୍ରକାର ବନ୍ଧନ/ନିଗ୍ରହ) ଓ ଧନଦଣ୍ଡ ଦିଆଯିବ। ଅନ୍ୟଥା ସମାଧାନ ନ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରାଜା ଏହା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକର କରିବେ।
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guiding royal enforcement when property is lost through unlawful acquisition or misappropriative use: compel restoration; if not, impose confinement and fine.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Restoration for Loss by Unlawful Gain/Enjoyment; Fivefold Confinement and Fine","lookup_keywords":["unlawful gain","misappropriation","restore property","panchabandha","royal fine"],"quick_summary":"Loss caused by wrongful acquisition or enjoyment must be made good; failing restitution, the king enforces punitive confinement (pañcabandha) along with a monetary fine."}
Concept: Daṇḍanīti: restitution is primary; punishment follows when the offender refuses to rectify harm.
Application: In governance and compliance systems, prioritize recovery/compensation; escalate to custodial and financial penalties upon non-compliance.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Law, and Penal Administration)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A magistrate orders an offender to restore misappropriated goods; when refused, guards apply a formal confinement method and a scribe assesses a fine for the treasury.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king-judge with stern gaze, offender beside guards, symbolic ropes/bonds indicating pañcabandha, recovered goods shown, scribe with palm-leaf, bold reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gilded throne room, king pointing to restitution, guards holding binding cords (symbolic), fine coins offered to treasury, ornate gold detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic scene: restitution on one side, punishment on the other, labeled pañcabandha motif, neat architectural framing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court justice scene with precise gestures, guards escorting offender, clerk recording fine, goods displayed as evidence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आगमेनोपभोगेन = आगमेन + उपभोगेन; अतोऽन्यथा = अतः + अन्यथा; दमस्तस्य = दमः + तस्य; तेनाप्यभाविते = तेन + अपि + अभाविते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (penal administration and restitution rules)
FAQs
It imparts legal-administrative knowledge (rājadharma): restitution for loss caused by wrongful acquisition or use, and the king’s application of confinement (pañcabandha) and monetary fine (dama).
Beyond theology, it codifies governance and jurisprudence—detailing remedies (compensation) and sanctions (custody and fines), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of statecraft and legal order.
It frames justice as dharma: restoring what was wrongfully taken reduces harm and adharma, while royal punishment functions as a corrective restraint that limits further wrongdoing and its karmic fallout.