Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 28
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
मातरं पितरं ज्येष्ठं भ्रातरं श्वशुरं गुरुं आक्षारयञ्च्छतं दण्ड्यः पन्थानं चाददद्गुरोः
mātaraṃ pitaraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ bhrātaraṃ śvaśuraṃ guruṃ ākṣārayañcchataṃ daṇḍyaḥ panthānaṃ cādadadguroḥ
తల్లి, తండ్రి, పెద్ద, అన్న/తమ్ముడు, మామ, గురువును దూషణ వాక్యాలతో అవమానించే వాడు వంద పణాల జరిమానాకు పాత్రుడు; అలాగే గురువు మార్గాధికారాన్ని అడ్డగించే లేదా హరించే వాడూ శిక్షార్హుడు.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s legal/rajadharma material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guides royal courts in assessing fines for verbal abuse against protected relations (parents/elders/teacher) and for obstructing a teacher’s right of way; supports drafting of civic conduct rules and penalty schedules.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Fines for reviling elders and obstructing the guru’s path","lookup_keywords":["guru-apavada","matar-pitar-ninda","shata-pana-danda","pantha-avarodha","vyavahara-danda"],"quick_summary":"Abusing mother, father, elder kin, father-in-law, or teacher incurs a fixed fine of 100 paṇas. Obstructing/appropriating the teacher’s right of way is likewise punishable, establishing protected status for the guru in public space."}
Concept: Gurupitṛmātṛ-ādi-garimā (special reverence and legal protection for parents, elders, and teacher) and restraint of speech/behavior in public life.
Application: Cultivate controlled speech and deference to elders; in governance, codify graded penalties that protect social trust and the teacher’s dignity.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Penal and civil law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where an offender is fined for insulting elders; a guru walking on a road while a man blocks the path, with the king’s officers intervening.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, a crowned king seated in sabhā with palm-leaf records, a serene guru in white walking on a village road, guards imposing a coin-fine on a contrite offender, ornate borders, traditional stylization.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed king on throne, richly patterned court, guru with dignified posture, attendants presenting a pouch of paṇas as fine, heavy jewelry and gold work, frontal iconic composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, court scene with written ledger of fines, clear depiction of 'right of way' on a road, subdued colors, instructional clarity, minimal background clutter.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court architecture, naturalistic faces, a narrow street scene inset showing obstruction of the guru’s path, officials assessing a 100-paṇa fine, fine textile and manuscript-like margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ākṣārayañcchataṃ → ākṣārayan + ca + śatam; cādadadguroḥ → ca + adadat + guroḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (Rajadharma/Vyavahara: fines and punishments)
FAQs
This verse imparts danda-niti (penal jurisprudence): it specifies a quantified fine (one hundred paṇas) for verbal insult of protected elders/relations and prescribes punishment for depriving a guru of his path/right of passage.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also codifies governance and civil order; this verse functions like a dharma-shastra rule, detailing punishable offences, protected persons, and standardized monetary penalties.
Insulting parents, elders, and the guru is treated as a grave ethical fault because it violates reverence toward sources of life and knowledge; the stated punishment reinforces social and karmic accountability through restraint of speech and respect for dharma.