Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 44
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
दाप्यस्तु दशमं भागं बाणिज्यपशुसस्यतः अनिश्चित्य भृतिं यस्तु कारयेत्स महीक्षिता
dāpyastu daśamaṃ bhāgaṃ bāṇijyapaśusasyataḥ aniścitya bhṛtiṃ yastu kārayetsa mahīkṣitā
ରାଜା ବାଣିଜ୍ୟ, ପଶୁସମ୍ପଦ ଓ କୃଷିଉତ୍ପାଦରୁ ଦଶମ ଭାଗ କର ଭାବେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବେ। କିନ୍ତୁ ବେତନ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ନକରି ସେବା କରାଇଲେ ସେ ଅନ୍ୟାୟୀ ରାଜା।
Lord Agni (teaching Rajadharma to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Taxation and labor ethics: levy a standard tithe on commerce, livestock, and crops; prohibit forced labor or compelled service without pre-fixed wages—marking it as unjust governance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daśama-bhāga kara & vetana-niścaya (Tithe taxation and fixed-wage rule)","lookup_keywords":["daśama-bhāga","kara","bāṇijya","paśu-sasya","aniścitya-bhṛti"],"quick_summary":"A tenth share may be collected from trade, livestock, and produce as revenue. Compelling work without first fixing wages is condemned as unjust rule."}
Concept: Legitimate state revenue must be bounded by fairness; coercion without clear compensation violates rāja-dharma.
Application: Public finance principle: transparent tax rates; wage fixation before requisitioning labor; prevent corvée-like abuse.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, taxation, and judicial procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Tax collection scene: merchants, herdsmen, and farmers offer a measured tenth share; beside it, a contrasting vignette shows a ruler rebuked for ordering unpaid labor without fixing wages.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural split-panel narrative: left shows orderly tithe collection with measuring vessels and cattle; right shows an official admonishing a king for unjust unpaid service, bold colors and clear moral contrast","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central king with gold-embossed regalia overseeing fair tax measurement (one-tenth marked), surrounding figures with produce and cattle, secondary scene of wage-fixing scroll, heavy gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: measuring pot labeled ‘daśama’, groups (merchant, herdsman, farmer), and a scribe fixing wages before labor order; fine lines and didactic layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed market and agrarian setting, tax officer with ledger, precise depiction of goods and animals, subtle moral scene of unjust command corrected by minister"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दाप्यस्तु = दाप्यः तु; कारयेत्स = कारयेत् सः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma on taxation (kara) and protection of subjects; Agni Purana Vyavahāra on fines and unjust acts by rulers
FAQs
It gives practical Rajadharma guidance: the king’s standard levy is one-tenth from commerce, livestock, and crops, and wages must be fixed before ordering work or service.
Beyond theology, it preserves a compact economic-legal policy on taxation and labor regulation—showing the Purana’s coverage of statecraft, revenue administration, and ethical governance.
Just taxation and fair payment are presented as kingly dharma; exploiting labor by not settling wages is adharma that harms the ruler’s merit and legitimacy.