Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 60
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
घातिते ऽपहृते दोषो ग्रामभर्तुरनिर्गते स्वसीम्नि दद्याद्ग्रामस्तु पदं वा यत्र गच्छति
ghātite 'pahṛte doṣo grāmabharturanirgate svasīmni dadyādgrāmastu padaṃ vā yatra gacchati
हतस्यापहृतस्य वा दोषो ग्रामभर्तुर् भवति, यदि स निर्गतः न स्यात्; स्वसीम्नि तु घटिते ग्रामो दद्याद्, अथवा यत्र पदं गच्छति तत्रानुसारतः।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Rules of local liability and policing: responsibility of village headman for failure to pursue; collective village compensation for crimes within boundary; tracing liability by following tracks.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Village Liability for Murder/Theft: Headman Duty, Boundary Rule, and Track-Tracing","lookup_keywords":["gramabhartu (village head)","sima (boundary)","pada (track/footprint)","apahrita (carried off)","doshabhaga (liability)"],"quick_summary":"If a killing or theft occurs and the village head fails to respond/pursue, he bears fault; if within the village boundary, the village pays compensation, otherwise liability follows the track to where it leads."}
Concept: Public order is a shared duty: negligence in protection creates culpability; jurisdiction is determined by boundary and evidence (tracks).
Application: Implement community policing and clear jurisdictional rules; use physical evidence (tracks) to assign investigative responsibility across neighboring units.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Governance, Criminal Law, and Judicial Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Settlement boundary
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village boundary with a crime scene; the headman is questioned for not pursuing; villagers gather; trackers follow footprints leading out toward another area, indicating transfer of liability.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: village edge with boundary stones, a fallen victim symbolically shown, headman with staff confronted by royal officer, trackers pointing to footprints; earthy palette, stylized trees and huts.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: compensation scene—village elders presenting coins to officials; boundary pillar prominent; gold accents on official insignia; orderly composition emphasizing accountability.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional tracking scene—clear footprints (pada) painted leading from village to forest path; headman holding a ledger; officials indicating the rule of liability; delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed rural landscape with huts, fields, and a boundary marker; investigators crouch to examine tracks; a scribe records; villagers in varied attire observe."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऽपहृते = अपहृते (avagraha); दद्याद्ग्रामः = दद्यात् + ग्रामः; ग्रामभर्तुरनिर्गते = ग्रामभर्तुः + अनिर्गते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (vyavahara: duties of local officers; compensation rules)
FAQs
It gives a rule of vyavahāra (legal procedure): assigning liability for murder/theft to the village-head or the village community, and using boundary/footprint evidence to determine responsibility.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical statecraft—jurisdiction by boundary, administrative duty of pursuit, and community compensation—showing the Purana’s coverage of governance and jurisprudence.
By enforcing responsibility and restitution, it supports dharma: preventing negligence by protectors and ensuring that wrongdoing is addressed rather than allowed to accumulate as communal adharma.