Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 35
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
अकूटं कूटकं ब्रूते कूटं यश्चाप्यकूटकम् स नाणकपरीक्षी तु दाप्यः प्रथमसाहसम्
akūṭaṃ kūṭakaṃ brūte kūṭaṃ yaścāpyakūṭakam sa nāṇakaparīkṣī tu dāpyaḥ prathamasāhasam
ਜੋ ਖਰਾ ਸਿੱਕਾ ਨਕਲੀ ਕਹੇ ਅਤੇ ਨਕਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਖਰਾ ਕਹੇ—ਐਸਾ ਸਿੱਕਾ-ਪਰਖੀ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਸਾਹਸ ਵਾਲਾ ਜੁਰਮਾਨਾ ਭਰੇਗਾ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s rajadharma/vyavahāra teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Regulates liability of coin-examiners/assayers: misclassification of genuine vs counterfeit coinage triggers a defined ‘first sāhasa’ fine, ensuring competence and impartiality in monetary verification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Penalty for erroneous coin-assay (nānaka-parīkṣā)","lookup_keywords":["nānaka-parīkṣī","akūṭa-kūṭa","kūṭa-akūṭa","prathama-sāhasa","coin assay"],"quick_summary":"A coin examiner who wrongly labels genuine as counterfeit or counterfeit as genuine is fined at the first-grade sāhasa level, discouraging negligence and collusion."}
Concept: Adhikāra entails responsibility: specialized officials must be truthful and competent; errors that harm public trust are punishable.
Application: Create standards for assaying; require witnesses/records; penalize misreporting to prevent bribery and incompetence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Legal Procedure, Evidence, and Punishments)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A coin assayer seated with touchstone and small balance, declaring a coin’s status; disputing parties protest; the judge imposes the first sāhasa fine for misclassification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, assayer with touchstone and scale, coins on a palm-leaf mat, disputants gesturing, judge and scribe behind, stylized expressions and bold color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, assayer in ornate seat with gold accents, coin and touchstone highlighted, judge pointing to a fine ledger, rich decorative borders and gilded details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical close-up: assayer rubbing coin on touchstone, weighing, noting marks; calm courtroom framing; delicate shading and clarity of tools.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate workshop-court scene: assayer with instruments, parties in fine garments, detailed coin tray, architectural niche backdrop, naturalistic detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yaścāpyakūṭakam → yaḥ ca api akūṭakam; nāṇakaparīkṣī → nāṇaka-parīkṣī; prathamasāhasam → prathama-sāhasam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (coinage, fraud, and sāhasa gradations)
FAQs
It imparts legal-technical guidance in vyavahāra: the liability of a coin examiner (nāṇaka-parīkṣī) who falsely certifies genuine coins as counterfeit or counterfeit as genuine, prescribing a first-grade sāhasa fine.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual into practical statecraft—market regulation, forensic-style examination of currency, and graded penal fines—typical of its rajadharma and judicial compendium sections.
By penalizing dishonest certification, it upholds satya (truth) and dharma in public transactions; maintaining economic fairness is treated as a moral duty whose violation brings culpability and social harm.