Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 15
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
शोणितेन विना दुःस्वङ्कुर्वन् काष्ठादिभिर्नरः द्वात्रिंशतं पणान् दाप्यो द्विगुणं दर्शने ऽसृजः
śoṇitena vinā duḥsvaṅkurvan kāṣṭhādibhirnaraḥ dvātriṃśataṃ paṇān dāpyo dviguṇaṃ darśane 'sṛjaḥ
शोणितेन विना दुःस्वङ्कुर्वन् काष्ठादिभिर्नरः; द्वात्रिंशतं पणान् दाप्यो, दर्शनेऽसृजः द्विगुणम्।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Establishes medico-legal grading by presence/absence of bleeding for assaults with blunt objects, guiding courts in evidence-based fine enhancement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Rule","entry_title":"Fine for striking with wood: 32 paṇas; doubled if bleeding appears","lookup_keywords":["kāṣṭha-prahāra","aśoṇita (no blood)","asṛg-darśana (bleeding)","dvātriṃśat paṇa","daṇḍa-dviguṇa"],"quick_summary":"Blunt assault causing pain without bleeding is fined at thirty-two paṇas; visible blood doubles the penalty, using injury severity as the legal multiplier."}
Weapon Type: Club/wooden staff (kāṣṭha)
Concept: Punishment is proportionate and evidence-sensitive; visible harm increases liability.
Application: Courts rely on observable signs (blood) to scale penalties, encouraging objective adjudication.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Vyavahāra (Dharma-śāstra / Legal Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A man struck with a wooden staff; one panel shows bruising without blood (32 paṇas), another shows bleeding (double fine) as the judge points to the evidence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-scene narrative with clear red accent for blood in second scene; village court and palm-leaf ledger; traditional attire and strong contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate court with gold leaf; attacker holding wooden staff; victim showing wound; coin stacks labeled 32 and 64; symmetrical composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional forensic emphasis: close depiction of bruise vs bleeding cut; judge and scribe; muted palette, fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, street altercation with a wooden cudgel; court vignette inset showing doubled fine upon seeing blood; meticulous faces and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: काष्ठादिभिः → काष्ठ + आदिभिः. दर्शने 'सृजः → दर्शने + असृजः (अ- elision/avagraha). दुःस्वङ्कुर्वन् treated as दुः + (स्वङ्कुर्वन्) participial formation from √कृ with prefix-like दुः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (injury-based fine gradations)
FAQs
It gives a practical rule of legal assessment: assault with a stick/wood causing pain without bleeding is fined 32 paṇas; visible bleeding doubles the fine.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves vyavahāra (jurisprudence) and rājadharma (statecraft), specifying graded monetary penalties based on the severity and evidence of injury.
By prescribing proportionate punishment and restitution, it supports dharma through deterrence of हिंसा (violence) and encourages social order by making harm carry tangible consequences.