Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 13
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
अन्यधर्मस्ततो ऽन्यत्र लोकसीमानुरोधिना सम्यगाधीयते यत्र स समाधिरिह स्मृतः
anyadharmastato 'nyatra lokasīmānurodhinā samyagādhīyate yatra sa samādhiriha smṛtaḥ
ਜਿੱਥੇ ਲੋਕ-ਸੀਮਾ (ਲੋਕਾਚਾਰ ਦੀ ਮੰਨੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੱਦ) ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਥਾਂ ਵੱਖਰਾ ਧਰਮ-ਨਿਯਮ ਠੀਕ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਅਪਣਾਇਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਥੇ ‘ਸਮਾਧਿ’ (ਥਿਰ ਵਿਧੀ-ਨਿਰਣਯ) ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in Agni Purana’s instructional discourse, typically to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guiding judges and royal officers in deciding cases: when a rule from another context is appropriately adopted to fit local custom and social boundaries, that settled determination is ‘samādhi’ (authoritative resolution).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Samādhi in Judicial Hermeneutics: Adopting Dharma by Lokasīmā (Custom)","lookup_keywords":["samādhi","rājadharma","lokasīmā","vyavahāra","customary law"],"quick_summary":"A legally settled determination (samādhi) occurs when an otherwise different dharma-rule is correctly applied in a new place/case in conformity with accepted local custom and limits."}
Concept: Dharma in practice is applied with sensitivity to deśa-kāla (place/time) and loka-maryādā (socially accepted limits), producing a binding settlement.
Application: In disputes, document local custom, test it against overarching dharma, and issue a reasoned settlement that harmonizes rule with lived boundaries.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Smriti (Judicial procedure and legal hermeneutics)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Veera
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court scene: the king or chief judge hears two parties; elders representing local custom stand beside boundary markers; the judge records a ‘samādhi’ settlement on a palm-leaf document.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rājāsana court with judge-king, disputants, village elders indicating lokasīmā boundary posts, scribe with palm-leaf, strong outlines and traditional earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, enthroned king-judge with gold embellishment, two litigants, elders holding a boundary rope, scribe writing ‘samādhi’ on a scroll, ornate pillars and gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear narrative courtroom composition, emphasis on procedural elements (scribe, witnesses, boundary markers), delicate linework and subdued colors for documentary feel","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar with qazi-like judge and Hindu kingly court blend, litigants presenting petitions, elders as customary authorities, fine architectural background and calligraphic decree"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: anyadharmastato 'nyatra → anya-dharmaḥ + tataḥ + anyatra; lokasīmānurodhinā → loka-sīmā-anurodhinā; samyagādhīyate → samyak + ādhīyate; samādhiriha → samādhiḥ + iha
Related Themes: Agni Purana (Rajadharma/Vyavahāra sections on adjudication, evidence, and local custom)
FAQs
It defines the legal-technical term samādhi as a valid juristic settlement: the correct adoption of an alternate dharma-rule when justified by loka-sīmā—recognized local custom and practical boundaries.
Beyond myth and worship, it preserves a Smṛti-style jurisprudential principle—how dharma is applied contextually through custom—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of governance and legal reasoning.
It frames justice as dharmic when grounded in proper procedure and socially recognized norms, supporting social order (dharma-saṃsthāpanā) and reducing wrongdoing arising from rigid or misapplied rules.