Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 34
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
पण्याजीवो ह्य् आपणिको न्यासश्चोपनिधिः पुमान् विपणो विक्रयः सङ्ख्या सङ्ख्येये ह्य् आदश त्रिषु
paṇyājīvo hy āpaṇiko nyāsaścopanidhiḥ pumān vipaṇo vikrayaḥ saṅkhyā saṅkhyeye hy ādaśa triṣu
வாணிபத்தால் வாழ்பவன் ‘ஆபணிக’ (கடைமான்/வணிகன்) எனப்படுகிறான். ந்யாஸம் மற்றும் உபநிதி—ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்ட நம்பிக்கை வைப்பு, மறைவாக வைக்கப்பட்ட வைப்பு ஆகியவற்றில் (பொறுப்பாளியான) நபருக்கும் பொருந்தும் சொற்கள். வாணிபம் ‘விபண’, விற்பனை ‘விக்ரய’, எண் ‘ஸங்க்யா’; கணிக்கத்தக்கவற்றில் ‘பத்து’க்கு ‘ஆதச’ என்ற பெயர் (மூன்று வச்சனங்களிலும்) உண்டு.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, consistent with Agni Purana’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Defines commercial and legal terms for merchants, deposits, sale, and numerical terminology—useful for contracts, dispute resolution, and accounting.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Trade and deposit terminology (āpaṇika, nyāsa/upanidhi, vipaṇa, vikraya, saṅkhyā)","lookup_keywords":["āpaṇika","nyāsa","upanidhi","vikraya","vipaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Clarifies key terms of commerce and trust-deposits, supporting proper identification of parties and transactions in legal and market contexts."}
Concept: Vyavahāra (legal procedure) depends on precise definitions of roles (merchant) and objects (deposit/sale).
Application: Draft clear agreements: distinguish open trust-deposit (nyāsa) from concealed deposit (upanidhi), and record sale (vikraya) terms for dispute prevention.
Khanda Section: Vyavahara-vidhi (Commerce, legal terminology, and enumeration)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marketplace with a shopkeeper (āpaṇika), a sale transaction (vikraya) with weighing and counting (saṅkhyā), and a trust-deposit being handed over and sealed (nyāsa/upanidhi).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: bustling bazaar with stylized stalls, merchant receiving coins, sealed pot as deposit, palm-leaf ledger, flat decorative borders and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central merchant at a stall with gold-highlighted scales and coin piles, side vignette of a sealed deposit pot with gold ornamentation, rich textile patterns.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic scene showing three panels—sale, deposit, counting—clean linework, labeled terms āpaṇika/nyāsa/upanidhi/vikraya/saṅkhyā.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed market court scene with merchants, scales, scribes, sealed deposit container, architectural arcade, fine costumes and precise objects."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्य् = हि. न्यासश्चोपनिधिः = न्यासः + च + उपनिधिः (ः + च → श्च; च + उ → चो). सङ्ख्येये ह्य् = सङ्ख्येये + हि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 365 (Vyavahāra-vidhi lexical segment)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā: precise definitions for commercial and legal terms—merchant (āpaṇika), deposit (nyāsa), concealed deposit (upanidhi), market/trade (vipaṇa), sale (vikraya), and enumeration (saṅkhyā).
By functioning like a technical glossary, it preserves standardized terminology used in commerce and legal procedure, showing the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond theology into practical governance, trade, and linguistic precision.
By clarifying terms tied to honest trade and rightful handling of deposits, it supports dharma in economic life—reducing disputes, preventing misappropriation, and aligning livelihood with righteous conduct (dharma).