Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 38
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
मानेन तुलया वापि यो ऽंशमष्टमकं हरेत् द्वाविंशतिपणान् दाप्यो वृद्धौ हानौ च कल्पितम्
mānena tulayā vāpi yo 'ṃśamaṣṭamakaṃ haret dvāviṃśatipaṇān dāpyo vṛddhau hānau ca kalpitam
ଯେ କେହି ମାପ କିମ୍ବା ତୁଳାରେ କପଟ କରି ଅଷ୍ଟମାଂଶ ହରଣ କରେ, ସେ ଦ୍ୱାବିଂଶତି ପଣ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦେବାକୁ ପଡିବ; ପଣ୍ୟରେ ବୃଦ୍ଧି କିମ୍ବା ହାନି—ଦୁହିଁଥିରେ ଏହି ଦଣ୍ଡ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରିତ।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Standardize market regulation: detect short-measure/short-weight fraud and apply a fixed monetary penalty to deter manipulation in retail and wholesale trade.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Fine for short-measure/short-weight by one-eighth","lookup_keywords":["māna","tulā","aṣṭamaka","paṇa-daṇḍa","vyavahāra"],"quick_summary":"If a trader cheats by an eighth using measure or balance, the king imposes a fixed fine of 22 paṇas. The same fine applies whether the goods are made to appear in excess or deficiency."}
Concept: Nyāya in commerce: truthful weights and measures as a pillar of rājadharma.
Application: Maintain calibrated measures, periodic inspection, and transparent penalties to protect buyers and stabilize prices.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Weights, Measures, and Commercial Law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal market inspector checks a merchant’s balance and standard weights; the merchant is caught short by an eighth and is fined in paṇas before a clerk.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat earthy palette, stylized bazaar scene with a tulā (balance), standard weights, stern rāja-adhikārin with palm-leaf ledger, merchants in traditional attire, clear narrative composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold leaf highlights, central seated king on throne receiving fine coins, foreground merchant with balance and weights, ornate arches and textile patterns, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional market-inspection tableau: calibrated weights, balance beam, clerk writing paṇa amount, emphasis on objects and procedure.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed bazaar with scales, weights, coin purse, qazi-like official and scribe, architectural depth, fine textiles, naturalistic faces, caption-like cartouche indicating '22 paṇas'."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यो ऽंशमष्टमकं → यः + अंशम् + अष्टमकम्; द्वाविंशतिपणान् → द्वाविंशति-पणान्; दाप्यो → दाप्यः (visarga before voiced consonant often written as ओ in some editions)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (Vyavahāra/Rājadharma: trade offences and fines)
FAQs
It gives a legal rule for trade: if a seller or buyer cheats by an eighth using measures or scales, a fixed fine of twenty-two paṇas is imposed, applicable to both over-measure and under-measure manipulations.
Beyond theology, it codifies practical governance—market regulation, monetary fines, and standards for measurement—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of dharma as applied to economics and civil administration.
Fair dealing is treated as dharma; cheating in trade is adharma that incurs both social punishment (fine) and negative karmic consequence, while honest measurement supports righteousness and public trust.