Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 41
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
राजानि स्थाप्यते यो ऽर्थः प्रत्यहं तेन विक्रयः क्रयो वा निस्रवस्तस्माद्बणिजां लाभकृत् स्मृतः
rājāni sthāpyate yo 'rthaḥ pratyahaṃ tena vikrayaḥ krayo vā nisravastasmādbaṇijāṃ lābhakṛt smṛtaḥ
அரசனிடம் வைப்பு செய்யப்படும் அந்த மூலதனத்தின் மூலம் நாள்தோறும் வாங்கல்-விற்பனை நடைபெறுகிறது; அதிலிருந்து உண்டாகும் வருவாய் வணிகர்களுக்குப் பயன் தரும் லாபமாகக் கருதப்படுகிறது।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Explain state-backed commercial capital: merchants deposit funds with the king/treasury enabling daily trade; the yield is treated as legitimate profit under regulated conditions.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Royal-deposited capital as profit-producing merchant fund","lookup_keywords":["rājani","arthasthāpana","pratyaham","kraya-vikraya","nisrava"],"quick_summary":"Capital placed with the king supports continuous buying and selling, generating a daily yield. The verse frames such regulated capital deployment as profit-producing for merchants."}
Concept: Artha as a regulated instrument: profit is legitimate when grounded in transparent custody and accountable circulation of capital.
Application: Use escrow-like royal custody or state-supervised deposits for large trade ventures; keep daily accounts of turnover and yield.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Governance, Law, and Commerce)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A merchant deposits a sealed bag of coins with the royal treasury; clerks record the deposit, and the merchant later conducts daily buying and selling, shown as a flowing stream of transactions yielding profit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, palace treasury with stylized chests, merchant offering sealed pouch, scribe with palm-leaf, later vignette of bustling market trade, narrative split-panel composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central king/treasurer receiving deposit with gold-leaf coin highlights, ornate treasury backdrop, secondary scene of merchant trading, rich decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional sequence: deposit, ledger entry, market transactions, yield calculation; fine detailing of documents and seals.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court treasury scene with accountants and scales, merchant presenting sealed bag, subsequent market scene with textiles/spices, subtle depiction of 'nisrava' as profit flow."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Sri","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यो ऽर्थः → यः + अर्थः; तस्माद्बणिजां → तस्मात् + बणिजाम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (merchant conduct, profit, and regulation)
FAQs
It imparts practical vyavahāra-vidyā: how merchant capital deposited under royal custody is treated as profit-yielding through ongoing daily transactions (sale/purchase) and resulting returns.
Beyond theology, it preserves a compact rule of political economy and commercial jurisprudence—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of governance, market regulation, and wealth-management norms alongside religious topics.
By framing commerce within rājadharma (royal order), the verse implies that wealth gained through regulated, socially accountable trade is legitimate (dhārmika), supporting ethical livelihood rather than exploitative gain.