Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 44
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
क्षत्रियः प्रथमं वैश्यो दण्ड्यः शूद्रागमे भवेत् गृहीत्वा वेतनं वेश्या लोभादन्यत्र गच्छति
kṣatriyaḥ prathamaṃ vaiśyo daṇḍyaḥ śūdrāgame bhavet gṛhītvā vetanaṃ veśyā lobhādanyatra gacchati
க்ஷத்திரியன் அல்லது வைசியன் முதன்முறையாக சூத்ரப் பெண்ணை அணுகினால் தண்டனைக்குரியவன். அதுபோல் விலை பெற்ற பின் பேராசையால் வேறிடத்திற்குச் செல்லும் வேசியும் தண்டிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Rules for punishable sexual misconduct and contractual breach: penalizing certain cross-varṇa approaches and penalizing a courtesan for fee-taking followed by non-performance (fraud/breach).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Punishable misconduct: illicit approach and courtesan’s fee-fraud","lookup_keywords":["daṇḍa","vyavahāra","veśyā","vetaṇa","śūdra-gamana"],"quick_summary":"The verse identifies punishable acts: a Kṣatriya/Vaiśya approaching a Śūdra woman (as framed here) and a courtesan who takes payment but goes elsewhere out of greed. It links sexual regulation with enforceable obligations."}
Concept: Dharma includes enforceable social order: sexual conduct is regulated and economic agreements must be honored; greed (lobha) is treated as a punishable driver of breach.
Application: In governance/legal settings, treat fee-taking with non-performance as actionable fraud/breach; apply penalties to deter exploitation and preserve public trust.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law, punishment, and social conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A courtroom or royal hall: an official records a complaint; a courtesan who accepted payment is confronted; a judge/king indicates punishment; alternatively, a case of illicit approach is presented for adjudication.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: royal hall with the king seated, a veśyā in traditional attire, a complainant holding a coin-purse, scribes and guards, strong outlines, moral-legal tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: king on throne with gold embellishments, courtesan and complainant in foreground, coins rendered with gold leaf, symmetrical composition emphasizing justice.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: procedural legal scene with clear gestures—payment exchange, then refusal—annotated feel, delicate shading, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed court scene with qazi-like judge/king, courtesan, merchant/warrior complainant, attendants; emphasis on documentary realism and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śūdrāgame = śūdra-āgame; lobhādanyatra = lobhāt anyatra.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226.45 (double wages/fines) as a likely continuation of contractual remedy logic; Agni Purana 226.47 (official misconduct) as parallel governance ethic
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (practical jurisprudence): identifying punishable offences—improper cross-varna sexual approach and breach of a paid service agreement (taking a fee and abandoning the engagement).
Beyond theology, it codifies governance and civil-penal norms (danda-nīti), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of statecraft, social regulation, and adjudication alongside ritual and spiritual topics.
By prescribing danda (penalty), the text frames social misconduct and deceitful gain as adharma that generates negative karma; lawful punishment is presented as a corrective means to restore order and reduce further sin.