Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 5
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
वाहुग्रीवानेत्रसक्थिविनाशे वाचिके दमः शत्यस्ततो ऽर्धिकः पादनासाकर्णिकरादिषु
vāhugrīvānetrasakthivināśe vācike damaḥ śatyastato 'rdhikaḥ pādanāsākarṇikarādiṣu
ବାହୁ, ଗ୍ରୀବା, ନେତ୍ର କିମ୍ବା ଜଂଘାର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟନାଶ/ନାଶ ହେଲେ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରିତ ଧନଦଣ୍ଡ ଶତ (ଏକକ) । ପାଦ, ନାସା, କର୍ଣ୍ଣ, କନପଟି ଆଦିରେ ଆଘାତ ହେଲେ ତାହାର ଅର୍ଧ ଦଣ୍ଡ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Medico-legal valuation of bodily injuries: assigning standardized monetary penalties by anatomical loss/impairment severity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Injury Valuation: Major Limb/Organ Loss vs Minor Facial/Peripheral Injury","lookup_keywords":["anga-bhanga","netra-nasha","bahu-nasha","dama-shata","vyavahara-chikitsa"],"quick_summary":"Loss of function of major parts (arm, neck, eye, thigh) incurs a higher fixed fine; injuries to foot, nose, ear, temple-region and similar parts incur half that amount—creating a schedule for compensation/penalty."}
Concept: Proportional justice through standardized harm-assessment; the body’s vital/functional parts merit higher protection and restitution.
Application: Use a harm schedule in courts/settlements; prioritize protection of vital organs and major limbs in public safety norms.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Chikitsa (Therapeutics and medico-legal valuation of injuries)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A medico-legal assessment scene: a physician-examiner and court scribe evaluate an injured person; a chart shows body parts with corresponding fines (100 for arm/neck/eye/thigh; 50 for foot/nose/ear/temple).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized physician with herbal satchel and palm-leaf notes beside a court clerk, injured figure seated, body-part chart iconographically shown, coin stacks indicating 100 and 50, warm earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure of a vaidya and a judge, embossed gold coin stacks labeled, injured person with bandage, decorative borders, rich colors and gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional anatomy-like diagram beside narrative court scene, fine linework, soft palette, emphasis on labeled parts and corresponding fines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed clinic-court hybrid scene, physician palpating injury, scribe writing, small inset diagram of body parts with numeric fines, delicate shading and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vāhugrīvānetrasakthivināśe = bāhu-grīvā-netra-sakthi-vināśe; śatyas = śataḥ (visarga sandhi before t); tato 'rdhikaḥ = tataḥ + ardhikaḥ; pādanāsākarṇikarādiṣu = pāda-nāsā-karṇikāra-ādiṣu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (injury fines/valuation subsections)
FAQs
It gives a technical schedule for assessing monetary penalties based on the severity and location of bodily injury—especially loss of function of major limbs/organs versus lesser injuries.
Alongside ritual and theology, it preserves practical governance and medico-legal norms by quantifying damages for injuries—showing the Purana’s coverage of law, public order, and applied medical assessment.
By prescribing proportional penalties, it supports dharma through restitution and deterrence, framing bodily harm as a moral and social offense that must be rectified to restore order.