Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 49
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
समवायेन बणिजां लाभार्थं कर्म कुर्वतां लभालाभौ यथा द्रव्यं यथा वा संविदा कृतौ
samavāyena baṇijāṃ lābhārthaṃ karma kurvatāṃ labhālābhau yathā dravyaṃ yathā vā saṃvidā kṛtau
ଲାଭ ପାଇଁ ସହଭାଗୀତାରେ ବ୍ୟବସାୟ କରୁଥିବା ବଣିକମାନଙ୍କର ଲାଭ–ହାନି ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା ପୁଞ୍ଜି/ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟର ଅନୁପାତରେ କିମ୍ବା କୃତ ସମ୍ବିଦା ଅନୁସାରେ ବଣ୍ଟିତ ହେବ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Partnership governance: allocate profit/loss by capital contribution or by explicit contract terms; supports drafting partnership agreements and dispute resolution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Partnership (samavāya) profit–loss apportionment","lookup_keywords":["samavāya","banījāṃ saṅgha/partnership","lābha-alābha","dravyānupāta","saṃvid (agreement)"],"quick_summary":"In joint trade, profits and losses are shared either proportionally to invested capital or as stipulated in the partnership agreement."}
Concept: Saṃvid (consent/contract) and proportional justice in shared enterprise.
Application: Write clear partnership terms; keep capital records; adjudicators can default to proportional sharing when contract is silent.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law of Commerce, Contracts, Profit-Loss Sharing)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A group of merchants forming a partnership, placing coins and goods into a common chest, signing an agreement; later, profits and losses are divided by a scribe using a ledger and weights.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, merchants seated in a circle with a shared treasury chest, palm-leaf contract, scribe with stylus, balanced scales symbolizing proportional division, warm ochres and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, partnership oath scene before a small shrine of Ganesha (auspicious commerce), gold-leaf on the chest and ornaments, merchants offering coins, agreement scroll prominent","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic depiction of two methods: division by capital and division by contract, split-panel composition, fine linework, readable ledger marks","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor counting-house with carpets, merchants and munshi, piles of coins, contract being sealed, later distribution scene with precise proportional heaps"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: lābhārthaṃ = lābha-artham; labhālābhau = lābha + alābhau (dvandva); baṇijāṃ…kurvatām: participle in genitive plural qualifying ‘of merchants’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (commercial law: sale, tolls, penalties)
FAQs
It imparts commercial-legal guidance (vyavahāra-vidyā): in a merchant partnership, profit and loss must be distributed either by proportional capital contribution or by the explicit contract (saṃvid).
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance and jurisprudence—here, rules for partnerships and contracts—showing its coverage of civil law, economics, and social order alongside ritual and myth.
By insisting on fair apportionment through capital share or clear agreement, it promotes dharmic livelihood (dharma-based earning), reducing disputes, deception, and the negative karma associated with unjust gain.