Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 11
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
समेष्वेवं परस्त्रीषु द्विगुणस्तूत्तमेषु च हीनेष्वर्धं दमो मोहमदादिभिरदण्डनम्
sameṣvevaṃ parastrīṣu dviguṇastūttameṣu ca hīneṣvardhaṃ damo mohamadādibhiradaṇḍanam
பரஸ்த்ரீ தொடர்பில் தண்டனை/தமனம் இவ்வாறு: சமநிலையுள்ள பெண்களுக்கு முன் கூறியபடி; உயர்ந்த நிலை பெண்களுக்கு இரட்டிப்பு; தாழ்ந்த நிலை பெண்களுக்கு பாதி. ஆனால் மயக்கம், மதம் (போதை) முதலிய காரணங்களால் நிகழ்ந்தால் தண்டனை விதிக்கக் கூடாது.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Guidance for proportional penance/discipline in adultery cases based on social parity, with mitigation when agency is impaired by delusion or intoxication.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Graduated Dama/Penance for Parastrī-gamana with Mitigating Factors","lookup_keywords":["parastrī","dama","uttama-madhyama-hīna","mada","moha"],"quick_summary":"Penance/restraint is scaled: equal-status—standard; higher-status—double; lower-status—half. If the act occurred under delusion or intoxication, punitive penalty is not imposed (mitigation of culpability)."}
Concept: Daṇḍa/penance must track intention and capacity (doṣa of agency); proportionality and mens rea-like mitigation are integral to dharmic justice.
Application: In adjudication, assess status-differential and mental state (intoxication/delusion) before assigning penance or punishment.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Nyaya (Penances and graduated discipline for moral faults)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A judge and elders prescribe different levels of penance for three cases (equal, higher, lower status), while a separate vignette shows a man intoxicated, with elders opting for non-punitive handling.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative: three panels with graded penance tokens (rope of restraint, fasting bowl, alms pot) and a fourth showing intoxication (mada) symbolized by a tipped cup; elders in council.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on the dharma-seat; symbolic scales showing ‘half/standard/double’; a small side scene of intoxication with softened judgment; ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic chart-like composition: three rows for hīna/sama/uttama with corresponding penance marks; separate row for ‘moha-mada’ marked ‘adaṇḍana’.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court scene with qazis/pandits; three petitioners representing different status cases; a separate corner scene of a drunken man supported by attendants, indicating mitigation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समेष्वेवं = समेषु एवम्; द्विगुणस्तूत्तमेषु = द्विगुणः तु उत्तमेषु; हीनेष्वर्धं = हीनेषु अर्धम्; मोहमदादिभिरदण्डनम् = मोहमदादिभिः अ-दण्डनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (prāyaścitta/daṇḍa gradations; exceptions)
FAQs
It gives a graded prāyaścitta/dama (disciplinary penance) model for a sexual offense, scaling the measure by the woman’s relative status (equal, higher, lower), and noting an exception when the act is due to moha or mada (delusion/intoxication).
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical rajadharma material—norms of culpability, proportional penalties, and exceptions—showing its coverage of governance, jurisprudence, and social regulation alongside ritual and theology.
It frames wrongdoing in terms of karmic accountability and purification through dama/prāyaścitta, while also recognizing reduced moral agency under delusion or intoxication, thereby adjusting the karmic-legal response.