Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
The Livelihood of the Householder (गृहस्थवृत्तिः) — Agni Purana, Chapter 152
हलमष्टगवं धर्म्यं षड्गवं जीवितार्थिनां चर्तुर्गवं नृशंसानां द्विगवं धर्मघातिनां
halamaṣṭagavaṃ dharmyaṃ ṣaḍgavaṃ jīvitārthināṃ carturgavaṃ nṛśaṃsānāṃ dvigavaṃ dharmaghātināṃ
Ang multa sa pagkuha/paggamit ng araro ay: walong baka para sa kumikilos ayon sa dharma; anim na baka para sa naghahanapbuhay; apat na baka para sa malupit; at dalawang baka para sa sumasalakay o sumisira sa dharma.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s dharma/penance rules)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Sets graded fines (in cows) for plough-related offense/appropriation, calibrated by intent and moral status, guiding judicial assessment and deterrence in agrarian economy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Hala-daṇḍa (Fines for plough-related offense)","lookup_keywords":["hala","daṇḍa","go-daṇḍa","vyavahāra","kṛṣi-nyāya"],"quick_summary":"A plough offense is fined in cattle units with decreasing amounts depending on the offender’s motive/character, illustrating proportional punishment in rural legal order."}
Concept: Daṇḍa must be proportionate and context-sensitive; social harm in agrarian tools/property is regulated through graded restitution.
Application: Helps rulers/judges set consistent penalties; encourages community respect for farming implements and property rights.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Legal penalties, ethics, and social order)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village court scene: a judge/king assesses a dispute over a plough; cows are counted as fine; scribes record the judgment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized royal court with dharmic judge, a plough displayed as evidence, attendants leading cows as penalty, bold outlines and flat color fields","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated king-judge with gold ornamentation, plough and cow tokens in foreground, ornate pillars, emphasis on dharma and restitution","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic layout: plough at center, four tiers of cow-fines shown as grouped cattle, court officials and ledger, soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtroom with qazi-like judge adapted to Indic setting, realistic cows, plough with carved wood, fine textile patterns, marginal notes feel"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: halamaṣṭagavaṃ = halam + aṣṭa-gavam; ṣaḍgavaṃ = ṣaṭ + gavam; carturgavaṃ = ca + catur-gavam (catur → catur- before g); dvigavaṃ = dvi + gavam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma/Vyavahara—daṇḍa-nīti and fines (surrounding legal verses)
FAQs
It gives a graded legal/ethical schedule of fines (measured in cows) connected with the taking or use of a plough, calibrated to the offender’s motive and moral disposition.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance material—penalties, standards of judgment, and social regulation—showing it functions as a compendium that includes jurisprudence and administrative ethics.
By tying penalties to dharma and intention, it frames wrongdoing as karmically weighty and teaches that restitution and proportionate punishment help restore moral order and reduce demerit.