Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 44
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
दाप्यस्तु दशमं भागं बाणिज्यपशुसस्यतः अनिश्चित्य भृतिं यस्तु कारयेत्स महीक्षिता
dāpyastu daśamaṃ bhāgaṃ bāṇijyapaśusasyataḥ aniścitya bhṛtiṃ yastu kārayetsa mahīkṣitā
O rei deve cobrar a décima parte do comércio, do gado e da produção agrícola. Porém, o governante que impõe serviço sem antes fixar o salário procede como um rei injusto.
Lord Agni (teaching Rajadharma to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Taxation and labor ethics: levy a standard tithe on commerce, livestock, and crops; prohibit forced labor or compelled service without pre-fixed wages—marking it as unjust governance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daśama-bhāga kara & vetana-niścaya (Tithe taxation and fixed-wage rule)","lookup_keywords":["daśama-bhāga","kara","bāṇijya","paśu-sasya","aniścitya-bhṛti"],"quick_summary":"A tenth share may be collected from trade, livestock, and produce as revenue. Compelling work without first fixing wages is condemned as unjust rule."}
Concept: Legitimate state revenue must be bounded by fairness; coercion without clear compensation violates rāja-dharma.
Application: Public finance principle: transparent tax rates; wage fixation before requisitioning labor; prevent corvée-like abuse.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, taxation, and judicial procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Tax collection scene: merchants, herdsmen, and farmers offer a measured tenth share; beside it, a contrasting vignette shows a ruler rebuked for ordering unpaid labor without fixing wages.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural split-panel narrative: left shows orderly tithe collection with measuring vessels and cattle; right shows an official admonishing a king for unjust unpaid service, bold colors and clear moral contrast","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central king with gold-embossed regalia overseeing fair tax measurement (one-tenth marked), surrounding figures with produce and cattle, secondary scene of wage-fixing scroll, heavy gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: measuring pot labeled ‘daśama’, groups (merchant, herdsman, farmer), and a scribe fixing wages before labor order; fine lines and didactic layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed market and agrarian setting, tax officer with ledger, precise depiction of goods and animals, subtle moral scene of unjust command corrected by minister"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दाप्यस्तु = दाप्यः तु; कारयेत्स = कारयेत् सः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma on taxation (kara) and protection of subjects; Agni Purana Vyavahāra on fines and unjust acts by rulers
FAQs
It gives practical Rajadharma guidance: the king’s standard levy is one-tenth from commerce, livestock, and crops, and wages must be fixed before ordering work or service.
Beyond theology, it preserves a compact economic-legal policy on taxation and labor regulation—showing the Purana’s coverage of statecraft, revenue administration, and ethical governance.
Just taxation and fair payment are presented as kingly dharma; exploiting labor by not settling wages is adharma that harms the ruler’s merit and legitimacy.