Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 25
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
प्ररोहिशाखिनां शाखास्कन्धसर्वविदारणे उपजीव्यद्रुमाणान्तु विंशतेर्द्विगुणा दमाः
prarohiśākhināṃ śākhāskandhasarvavidāraṇe upajīvyadrumāṇāntu viṃśaterdviguṇā damāḥ
Para as árvores que lançam rebentos e têm ramos, se alguém fender ou rasgar, de qualquer modo, os seus ramos ou o tronco, a multa é de vinte (paṇas). No caso das árvores que sustentam o meio de vida, a multa é o dobro, isto é, quarenta.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Legal protection of trees as property and livelihood assets; sets standard fines for damaging branches/trunks, with higher penalties for economically sustaining trees.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Fines for Damaging Trees; Double for Livelihood-Sustaining Trees","lookup_keywords":["druma","shakha-skandha","vidarana","upajivya-druma","vimshati"],"quick_summary":"Damaging branches or trunk of sprouting/branching trees incurs a 20-paṇa fine; for trees that sustain livelihood, the fine is doubled."}
Concept: Protection of productive nature (trees) as a dharmic-economic duty; higher penalty where community livelihood is harmed.
Application: Treat damage to orchards, shade trees, and income trees (fruit, timber, resin) as aggravated offense with enhanced fines.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Danda-niti: fines and penalties for injury to property/trees)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A man caught splitting a tree trunk/branch; villagers bring him before an officer who records a 20-paṇa fine, doubled for a livelihood tree like a fruit orchard tree.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized grove with a split trunk, officer with palm-leaf register, villagers pointing, coins depicted symbolically, flat decorative foliage patterns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, lush fruit tree with gold-highlighted leaves, offender with axe, judge imposing fine, ornate borders and gilded accents","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene showing two cases: ordinary tree (20) and livelihood tree (40), scribe writing numbers, clear composition and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, orchard setting with detailed botanicals, offender apprehended, official tallying coins, delicate shading and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शाखास्कन्धसर्वविदारणे = शाखा-स्कन्ध-सर्व-विदारणे; उपजीव्यद्रुमाणान्तु = उपजीव्य-द्रुमाणाम् तु; विंशतेर्द्विगुणा = विंशतेः द्विगुणाः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (property damage and fines)
FAQs
It teaches danda-niti (penal jurisprudence): how to assess monetary fines for damaging trees—standard trees incur a fine of twenty, while livelihood-sustaining trees incur a doubled fine.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and legal standards—here, a precise tariff of fines for property/ecological damage, reflecting administrative and economic regulation.
By penalizing harm to trees—especially those sustaining livelihoods—the text frames protection of living resources as a dharmic duty; preventing injury and compensating harm supports social order and reduces harmful karma.