Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 70
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
अदेशकालसम्भाषं सहावस्थानमेव च स्त्री निषेधे शतं दद्याद् द्विशतन्तु दमं पुमान्
adeśakālasambhāṣaṃ sahāvasthānameva ca strī niṣedhe śataṃ dadyād dviśatantu damaṃ pumān
தகாத இடம்-காலத்தில் உரையாடுதல், மேலும் தகாத முறையில் ஒன்றாகத் தங்குதல்—பெண்ணுக்கு நிஷேதம்/கட்டுப்பாடு உள்ள நிலையில்—பெண் நூறு (பண) அபராதம் செலுத்த வேண்டும்; ஆண் இருநூறு (பண) செலுத்த வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Sets monetary fines for improper conversation/association at wrong time/place under restrictions, with higher liability for the man; usable as a template for adjudicating ‘improper association’ offences.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Adeśa-kāla-saṃbhāṣa & saha-avasthāna—Fines under strī-niṣedha","lookup_keywords":["adeśa-kāla","saṃbhāṣa","sahāvasthāna","strī-niṣedha","paṇa-daṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"Improper conversation or staying together in prohibited contexts incurs fines: 100 paṇas for the woman and 200 for the man. The rule operationalizes social boundaries via monetary deterrence."}
Concept: Maryādā (social boundary) enforced through proportionate fines; differential responsibility assigned to the man.
Application: Judicial assessment: treat ‘improper time/place’ and ‘inappropriate co-presence’ as finable offences; apply fixed paṇa schedule.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law, Social Conduct, and Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A city street or garden at an ‘improper’ hour where a man and woman converse; a court clerk later records the offence and the fine amounts 100 and 200 on a tally board.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two figures conversing under a moonlit pavilion, a guard observing, then a small court vignette with palm-leaf ledger showing ‘100’ and ‘200’, bold outlines and flat color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate pavilion scene with rich textiles, discreet guard, inset of king’s accountant with gold-highlighted ledger and coin piles labeled 100/200 paṇas, decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional split-scene: (1) adeśa-kāla conversation, (2) saha-avasthāna, (3) fine assessment with coin stacks, clean linework and gentle shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, nocturnal garden conversation with attendants in background, then a detailed office scene of scribes calculating fines, realistic coins, architectural interiors, caption cartouches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अदेशकालसम्भाषं = अदेश + काल + सम्भाषम् (तत्पुरुष); सहावस्थानमेव = सहावस्थानम् + एव; द्विशतन्तु = द्विशतम् + तु
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (rules on strī-saṃbandha offences and paṇa-based fines)
FAQs
It specifies a legal rule of vyavahāra: graded monetary fines for improper conversation or co-presence at improper times/places, with a higher penalty assigned to the man.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical jurisprudence (rajadharma)—fine schedules and conduct-regulation—showing the text’s coverage of governance and social law alongside ritual and theology.
By discouraging improper association and safeguarding social restraint (niyama), it frames ethical discipline as dharma; compliance reduces social harm and karmic demerit arising from misconduct.