Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 35
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
अकूटं कूटकं ब्रूते कूटं यश्चाप्यकूटकम् स नाणकपरीक्षी तु दाप्यः प्रथमसाहसम्
akūṭaṃ kūṭakaṃ brūte kūṭaṃ yaścāpyakūṭakam sa nāṇakaparīkṣī tu dāpyaḥ prathamasāhasam
Ang sinumang magsabing ang tunay na barya ay peke, o ang pekeng barya ay tunay—ang gayong tao, bilang tagasuri ng salapi, ay papatawan ng multa para sa unang antas ng sāhasa (kasalanang pinarurusahan).
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s rajadharma/vyavahāra teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Regulates liability of coin-examiners/assayers: misclassification of genuine vs counterfeit coinage triggers a defined ‘first sāhasa’ fine, ensuring competence and impartiality in monetary verification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Penalty for erroneous coin-assay (nānaka-parīkṣā)","lookup_keywords":["nānaka-parīkṣī","akūṭa-kūṭa","kūṭa-akūṭa","prathama-sāhasa","coin assay"],"quick_summary":"A coin examiner who wrongly labels genuine as counterfeit or counterfeit as genuine is fined at the first-grade sāhasa level, discouraging negligence and collusion."}
Concept: Adhikāra entails responsibility: specialized officials must be truthful and competent; errors that harm public trust are punishable.
Application: Create standards for assaying; require witnesses/records; penalize misreporting to prevent bribery and incompetence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Legal Procedure, Evidence, and Punishments)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A coin assayer seated with touchstone and small balance, declaring a coin’s status; disputing parties protest; the judge imposes the first sāhasa fine for misclassification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, assayer with touchstone and scale, coins on a palm-leaf mat, disputants gesturing, judge and scribe behind, stylized expressions and bold color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, assayer in ornate seat with gold accents, coin and touchstone highlighted, judge pointing to a fine ledger, rich decorative borders and gilded details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical close-up: assayer rubbing coin on touchstone, weighing, noting marks; calm courtroom framing; delicate shading and clarity of tools.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate workshop-court scene: assayer with instruments, parties in fine garments, detailed coin tray, architectural niche backdrop, naturalistic detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yaścāpyakūṭakam → yaḥ ca api akūṭakam; nāṇakaparīkṣī → nāṇaka-parīkṣī; prathamasāhasam → prathama-sāhasam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (coinage, fraud, and sāhasa gradations)
FAQs
It imparts legal-technical guidance in vyavahāra: the liability of a coin examiner (nāṇaka-parīkṣī) who falsely certifies genuine coins as counterfeit or counterfeit as genuine, prescribing a first-grade sāhasa fine.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual into practical statecraft—market regulation, forensic-style examination of currency, and graded penal fines—typical of its rajadharma and judicial compendium sections.
By penalizing dishonest certification, it upholds satya (truth) and dharma in public transactions; maintaining economic fairness is treated as a moral duty whose violation brings culpability and social harm.