Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 52
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
मिथ्या वदन् परीमाणं शुल्कस्थानादपक्रमन् दाप्यस्त्वष्टगुणं यश् च सव्याजक्रयविक्रयौ
mithyā vadan parīmāṇaṃ śulkasthānādapakraman dāpyastvaṣṭaguṇaṃ yaś ca savyājakrayavikrayau
కొలత పరిమాణాన్ని అబద్ధంగా చెప్పేవాడు లేదా సుంకస్థానాన్ని తప్పించుకొని వెళ్లేవాడు ఎనిమిది రెట్లు దండం చెల్లించాలి; అలాగే మోసం/నెపంతో కొనుగోలు–అమ్మకాలు చేసే వాడూ శిక్షార్హుడు।
Lord Agni (in instruction on rajadharma to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Anti-evasion and anti-fraud enforcement: penalize false measurement declarations and customs-post evasion with eightfold fines; punish sham transactions and fraudulent buying/selling.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Eightfold penalty for false measurement, customs evasion, and fraudulent trade","lookup_keywords":["mithyā-parimāṇa","śulka-sthāna apakramaṇa","aṣṭa-guṇa daṇḍa","savyāja (pretext)","kraya-vikraya fraud"],"quick_summary":"Misstating quantity/measure or evading the customs post triggers an eightfold penalty. Fraudulent purchase/sale through pretext or deception is likewise punishable."}
Concept: Satya (truthfulness) in measurement and exchange; deterrence as protection of collective welfare.
Application: Standardize weights/measures; audit declarations; enforce strong penalties for evasion and sham contracts to maintain market integrity.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Law, and Revenue Administration)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A trader secretly alters weights and declares a false measure; another tries to bypass the customs post; officials catch them and impose an eightfold fine; a sham sale is exposed by a clerk comparing ledgers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic capture at customs gate, crooked scales shown clearly, officials pointing to standard weights, fine being collected, expressive faces, traditional mural palette and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, justice scene with king/judge and gold-leafed treasury, confiscated false weights displayed, offender paying multiplied fine, ornate frame and rich colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional focus on correct vs false measures, side-by-side scales, customs post signage, clerk demonstrating eightfold calculation, refined lines and gentle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling checkpoint with detailed objects, hidden path of evader, guards intercepting, ledger audit scene, precise depiction of weights and coin stacks multiplied"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śulkasthānādapakraman = śulka-sthānāt + apakraman; dāpyastvaṣṭaguṇaṃ = dāpyaḥ + tu + aṣṭa-guṇam; yāś ca (in text yś ca) = yaḥ + ca; savyājakrayavikrayau analyzed as (sa-vyāja) + (kraya-vikraya) dvandva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257.51 (customs duty); Agni Purana 257 (fraud/penalty framework)
FAQs
It teaches śulka-nīti: practical customs enforcement—penalizing false declaration of quantity, evasion of the customs post, and fraudulent buying/selling.
Beyond theology, it preserves administrative law: measurement standards, customs checkpoints, commercial fraud, and quantified fines—showing the Purana’s coverage of statecraft and economy.
Truthful dealing and honest weights/measures are treated as dharma; fraud and evasion generate demerit and social harm, hence the text mandates strict restitution to restore moral order.