Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 4
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
अनृते तु पृथग्दण्ड्या राज्ञा मध्यमसाहसम् अभावे ज्ञातृचिह्नानां राजा सीम्नः प्रवत्तकः
anṛte tu pṛthagdaṇḍyā rājñā madhyamasāhasam abhāve jñātṛcihnānāṃ rājā sīmnaḥ pravattakaḥ
ஆனால் பொய் கூறினால் அரசன் தனித்த தண்டனை விதிக்க வேண்டும்; இதை ‘மத்தியம சாஹசம்’ (கடுமையான குற்றத்தின் நடுநிலை) எனக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். உறவினரின் அடையாளங்கள்/சாட்சியம் இல்லையெனில் அரசனே எல்லைக்கோட்டை நிறுவுபவனாக இருப்பான்.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Deterring perjury in boundary cases through graded punishment (madhyama-sāhasa) and empowering the king/state to fix boundaries when evidence is absent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Anṛta-daṇḍa in Sīmā-vivāda and Royal Establishment of Boundary","lookup_keywords":["anṛta","madhyama-sāhasa","daṇḍa","rājā sīmā-pravarttaka","pramāṇa-abhāva"],"quick_summary":"False testimony in boundary disputes incurs a serious, graded penalty; if marks and kin-testimony are lacking, the king is authorized to establish the boundary to restore order."}
Concept: Daṇḍa-nīti: punishment as a means to protect truth (satya) and social order in vyavahāra.
Application: Penalize perjury and create a fallback administrative mechanism (official survey/settlement) when evidence is insufficient.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: criminal law and judicial procedure)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court scene: a witness caught lying is sentenced; in another vignette, the king orders officials to establish a boundary where no marks or relatives’ testimony exist.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king seated with attendants, stern expression, a trembling witness before him, scribes and guards, second panel showing officials measuring land, bold lines and limited palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king with gold halo-like arch, raised hand of judgment, punished perjurer to the side, gold-embellished throne and ornaments, secondary scene of boundary fixing with stylized measuring rope","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: (1) perjury and madhyama-sāhasa penalty pronounced, (2) administrative boundary establishment with surveyors, clear gestures and calm detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature court, refined architecture, officials presenting records, accused witness, king issuing decree; landscape inset with surveyors marking boundary, fine calligraphic border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पृथग्दण्ड्या→पृथक् दण्ड्या; प्रवत्तकः is read as प्रवर्तकः in sense; kept as given.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: daṇḍa-vidhi and sāhasa gradations in Rajadharma/Vyavahara portions near ch. 256
FAQs
It imparts legal-technical guidance in vyavahāra: perjury/falsehood is penalized as a graded serious offence (madhyama-sāhasa), and in boundary disputes lacking kin-based identifiers, the king must determine and establish the boundary.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves dharmaśāstra-like court procedure—grading offences, prescribing punishments, and detailing how a ruler adjudicates practical matters like land boundaries.
By punishing falsehood and safeguarding boundaries through impartial royal decision, the king upholds dharma; truthfulness and just adjudication reduce social harm and support righteous karma for ruler and subjects.