Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 16
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
दत्ताप्यदत्ता सा तस्य राज्ञा दण्ड्यः शतद्वयं प्रदाय कन्यां यो ऽन्यस्मै पुनस्तां सम्प्रयच्छति
dattāpyadattā sā tasya rājñā daṇḍyaḥ śatadvayaṃ pradāya kanyāṃ yo 'nyasmai punastāṃ samprayacchati
ਉਹ ਕੁੜੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੋਈ ਵੀ ਉਸ ਲਈ ਨਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਮੰਨੀ ਜਾਵੇ। ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਕੁੜੀ ਦਾ ਦਾਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਸੇ ਕੁੜੀ ਨੂੰ ਫਿਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਨੂੰ ਦੇ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਰਾਜਾ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਦੋ ਸੌ (ਪਣ) ਦਾ ਦੰਡ ਲਗਾ ਕੇ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਦੇਵੇ।
Lord Agni (in instruction on rajadharma to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Prevents double-allotment of a bride (breach of marriage agreement); provides a concrete fine and clarifies that a second giving is invalid even if a prior formal giving occurred.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Invalidity of re-giving a maiden and the royal fine","lookup_keywords":["dattā-adattā","kanyā","punar-dāna","rāja-daṇḍa","śatadvaya"],"quick_summary":"A maiden once given cannot be given again; if someone reassigns her to another, the act is treated as invalid and the offender pays a fine of two hundred paṇas, safeguarding marital certainty."}
Concept: Protection of persons from being treated as transferable property; sanctity and finality of saṃskāra commitments.
Application: Treat double-contracting in marriage as void and punishable; prioritize the woman’s security and social order.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Legal Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dispute where a guardian attempts to give the same maiden to a second suitor; the king’s court declares the second giving invalid; a fine is imposed; the maiden stands with attendants, protected.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic court scene with strong outlines, guardian being admonished, king gesturing prohibition, maiden with attendants in dignified posture, symbolic scroll marking ‘adattā’","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central king with gold arch, two suitors on either side, guardian in the middle, gold coin fine depicted prominently, rich ornamentation and temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: first giving, attempted second giving, and judgment; soft palette, precise facial expressions, emphasis on legal invalidation","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, layered court interior, scribes documenting prior gift, officials stopping the second ceremony, fine paid to treasury, intricate costumes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दत्ता+अपि+अदत्ता → दत्ताप्यदत्ता; सः+अन्यस्मै → योऽन्यस्मै (यो + अन्यस्मै); पुनः+ताम् → पुनस्ताम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (vivāha-related penalties and procedural rules)
FAQs
It gives a rule of vyavahāra (legal procedure): re-assigning the same maiden to another after an earlier giving is treated as invalid and punishable, with a fixed monetary fine (two hundred paṇas).
Beyond myths and worship, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft—court-enforceable norms on marriage transactions, invalid conveyance, and standardized fines—showing its coverage of governance and civil law.
It frames marital giving as a dharmic act that must not be manipulated; violating it is adharma that warrants royal punishment, reinforcing ethical restraint and social order as part of righteous conduct.