Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 22
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
दुःस्वोत्पादिगृहे द्रव्यं क्षिपन् प्राणहरं तथा षाडशाद्यं पणात् दाप्यो द्वितीयो मध्यमन्दमम्
duḥsvotpādigṛhe dravyaṃ kṣipan prāṇaharaṃ tathā ṣāḍaśādyaṃ paṇāt dāpyo dvitīyo madhyamandamam
Тот, кто бросит имущество в дом, поражённый несчастьем или дурными знамениями, а также тот, кто даст вещество, лишающее жизни (яд), как виновный второй степени, должен уплатить штраф, начинающийся с шестнадцати пан, — средней, смягчённой меры.
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Penalizing harmful acts involving ominous/inauspicious aggression against a household and administering lethal substances (poisoning), with a specified fine starting at sixteen paṇas for a middle-grade offense.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Penalty for casting property into an ill-omened house; and for administering life-destroying substance","lookup_keywords":["dushvotpadigriha","kshipan","pranahara","visha","shodasha-pana"],"quick_summary":"Acts that endanger a household through ominous aggression or by giving lethal substances are punished with a middle-grade fine beginning at sixteen paṇas, reflecting the seriousness of endangerment and malice."}
Concept: Protection of life and household sanctity; danda addresses both physical harm (poison) and socially destabilizing malevolence (inauspicious acts).
Application: Treat endangerment (especially poisoning) as a high-priority offense; impose prompt penalties and protective measures for the targeted household.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Criminal Law and Fines)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tense scene: a person stealthily administers a harmful substance; another throws objects into a household marked by ill-omen symbols; the judge orders a fine starting at sixteen paṇas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic domestic threshold scene with protective motifs, villain with small vial, householders alarmed, court inset showing fine '16 paṇa', strong contrasts and stylized expressions.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented household shrine corner, gold detailing, villain offering a cup with poison, judge panel with coin stack labeled 16, auspicious/inauspicious symbols emphasized.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear narrative with two sub-scenes (kshipan into house; poison administration), labeled legal consequence 'madhyama danda from 16 paṇa', calm instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with fine textiles, subtle depiction of poisoning attempt, separate vignette of court sentencing, detailed architecture and subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"grave","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दुःस्वोत्पादिगृहे = दुःस्व-उत्पादि-गृहे (समास); षाडशाद्यं (पाठ) → षोडश-आद्यम्; प्राणहरं = प्राण-हरम्; पणात् दाप्यः = पणात् + दाप्यः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (criminal fines); Agni Purana sections on Ayurveda/visha (poisons) where applicable
FAQs
It conveys danda-niti (penal jurisprudence): specific monetary fines (in paṇas) for endangering others by malicious acts such as casting valuables into an afflicted household and administering lethal substances.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and legal procedure—here, graded offences and quantified fines—showing its coverage of governance and civil/criminal regulation.
Acts that threaten life or deliberately spread harm are treated as heavy adharma; imposing fines functions as social restraint and partial expiation, reinforcing the karmic principle that harmful intent demands corrective consequence.