Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 51
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
अर्थप्रेक्षपणाद्विंशं भागं शुल्कं नृपा हरेत् व्यासिद्धं राजयोग्यञ्च विक्रीतं राजगामि तत्
arthaprekṣapaṇādviṃśaṃ bhāgaṃ śulkaṃ nṛpā haret vyāsiddhaṃ rājayogyañca vikrītaṃ rājagāmi tat
ପରୀକ୍ଷା ଓ ମୂଲ୍ୟନିର୍ଣ୍ଣୟ ପାଇଁ ଆଣାଯାଇଥିବା ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟରୁ ରାଜା ବିଶମାଂଶ ଶୁଳ୍କ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବେ; ଏବଂ ଯାହା ରାଜଯୋଗ୍ୟ କିମ୍ବା ବିଧିପୂର୍ବକ ନିର୍ଣ୍ଣୀତ ହୋଇ ବିକ୍ରୀତ, ତାହା ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଅଧିକାରକୁ ଯାଏ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Customs and valuation administration: levy 1/20 toll on inspected goods; define royal prerogative over items fit for royal use or duly appraised sales—guiding revenue collection and state procurement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Customs duty of one-twentieth; royal claim on appraised/royal-use goods","lookup_keywords":["śulka (toll)","viṃśa-bhāga (1/20)","artha-prekṣa (inspection/valuation)","rāja-yogya (fit for king)","rāja-gāmi (accrues to king)"],"quick_summary":"Goods presented for official inspection/valuation incur a 1/20 customs duty. Items deemed fit for royal use, and goods sold after due appraisal, fall under the king’s rightful claim/treasury authority."}
Concept: Rājadharma: legitimate taxation tied to inspection and public order; royal prerogative in procurement.
Application: Implement transparent valuation checkpoints; standardize duty rates; maintain records for treasury and procurement to prevent arbitrary exactions.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, taxation, and legal procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A customs post where officials inspect and appraise goods with scales and measuring rods; a collector takes one-twentieth as duty; select high-quality items are marked ‘royal-use’ and sent to the treasury.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, gateway customs house with officials holding scales, merchants in line, sacks and carts, a clerk calculating 1/20, royal seal marking rāja-yogya goods, strong contours and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king’s treasury scene with gold-leaf on coins and royal insignia, customs officer presenting appraised goods, duty portion separated, ornate pillars and arch","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic depiction of measurement and fractioning (1/20) with clear tools—scale, rod, weights—scribe writing, calm administrative setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed border checkpoint with guards and officials, merchants unloading, meticulous depiction of weighing and coin collection, royal warehouse in background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: arthaprekṣapaṇādviṃśaṃ = artha-prekṣa-paṇāt + viṃśam; rājayogyañca = rāja-yogyam + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (tolls, fraud penalties, commerce rules)
FAQs
It teaches revenue-administration procedure: goods are to be officially inspected/valued, and a standardized customs duty (one-twentieth) is to be collected as śulka.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical statecraft—trade regulation, taxation rates, and legal valuation—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of governance (rājadharma) alongside ritual and spiritual topics.
By prescribing measured, rule-based taxation rather than arbitrary seizure, it frames kingship as dharmic stewardship—revenue collected lawfully supports public order and reduces the ruler’s karmic fault from unjust exaction.