Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 50
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
प्रतिषिद्धमनादिष्टं प्रमादाद्यच्च नाशितं स तद्दयाद्विप्रवाच्च रक्षिताद्दशमांशभाक्
pratiṣiddhamanādiṣṭaṃ pramādādyacca nāśitaṃ sa taddayādvipravācca rakṣitāddaśamāṃśabhāk
ਚਾਹੇ ਮਨਾਹੀ ਵਾਲੀ ਚੀਜ਼ ਹੋਵੇ ਜਾਂ ਸੌਂਪੀ ਨਾ ਗਈ ਹੋਵੇ—ਜੇ ਲਾਪਰਵਾਹੀ ਨਾਲ ਨਸ਼ਟ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਭਰਪਾਈ ਕਰਨੀ ਪਵੇਗੀ; ਅਤੇ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਦੇ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਜੋ ਬਚਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ, ਉਸ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਉਹ ਦਸਵਾਂ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲੈਣ ਦਾ ਹੱਕਦਾਰ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Liability for negligent destruction and reward-share for safeguarding: establishes restitution duty for loss caused by carelessness and a tenth-share incentive for successful protection under learned oversight.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Negligence restitution; tenth-share for safeguarded property under brāhmaṇa instruction","lookup_keywords":["pramāda (negligence)","nāśita (destroyed)","pratiṣiddha/anādiṣṭa","daśamāṃśa (tenth share)","rakṣita (safeguarded)"],"quick_summary":"Damage caused by negligence must be repaid regardless of whether the item was prohibited or not entrusted. For property successfully protected, a tenth share may be allotted as directed by a brāhmaṇa (authoritative counsel)."}
Concept: Aparamāda (carefulness) as social duty; restitution for harm; incentivizing protection through a defined share.
Application: In custodial roles (warehouse, transport, agency), set negligence standards and restitution; create reward structures for successful safeguarding with oversight.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Legal-Ethics Section)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A custodian negligently causes loss (spilled oil jar, broken goods) and is ordered to repay; in a parallel scene, a vigilant guard protects stored goods and receives a tenth share after consultation with a brāhmaṇa and scribe.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel narrative: careless porter dropping a jar; stern judge ordering repayment; second panel with guard at granary door, brāhmaṇa advising, scribe noting ‘daśamāṃśa’, bold outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, granary/treasury protection scene with gold-leaf highlights on storage vessels and coins, brāhmaṇa seated giving instruction, guard receiving a measured tenth portion","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional split composition showing ‘pramāda’ loss and ‘rakṣaṇa’ reward, clear objects (jars, bales), ledger with fraction marks, soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, warehouse interior with stacked bales, accident scene with onlookers, then formal restitution before an official; second scene of reward distribution with exact tenth pile"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pratiṣiddhamanādiṣṭaṃ = pratiṣiddham + anādiṣṭam; pramādādyacca = pramādāt + yat + ca; taddayādvipravācca = tat + dayāt + vipravācā + ca; rakṣitāddaśamāṃśabhāk = rakṣitāt + daśama-aṃśa-bhāk.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (penalties, tolls, commercial duties)
FAQs
It gives a rule of vyavahāra (legal procedure): loss caused by negligence entails restitution, and it also states a daśamāṃśa (one‑tenth) entitlement from safeguarded goods under brahminical counsel.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical governance norms—civil liability, restitution, and revenue share—showing its coverage of dharma, law, and state administration.
Repaying loss caused by one’s negligence is framed as a dharmic corrective action that reduces wrongdoing (doṣa) and restores moral order through fair compensation and righteous counsel.