Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 44
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
गृहीतमूल्यं यः पण्यं क्रेतुर्नैव प्रयच्छति सोदयन्तस्य दाप्यो ऽसौ दिग्लाभं वा दिगागते
gṛhītamūlyaṃ yaḥ paṇyaṃ kreturnaiva prayacchati sodayantasya dāpyo 'sau diglābhaṃ vā digāgate
Sinumang tumanggap na ng bayad ngunit hindi naghatid ng kalakal sa mamimili ay dapat piliting ibigay ito sa naghahabol; o kung ang kalakal ay nadala na sa ibang dako, dapat niyang bayaran ang halaga nito ayon sa halagang natamo roon.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Enforcement of sale contracts: compel delivery after payment; if goods are moved elsewhere, award value according to the destination market rate.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Non-delivery after Taking Price (Pradatta-mūlya, Apradatta-panya)","lookup_keywords":["non-delivery","sale contract","specific performance","market value elsewhere","vyavahara"],"quick_summary":"If a seller takes payment but withholds delivery, the court compels delivery; if the goods are taken to another place, the seller must pay the value as realized there."}
Concept: Satya and dāna-pratigraha integrity in commerce: taking price creates a binding duty to deliver or restore equivalent value.
Application: Draft contracts specifying delivery place/time; if breach occurs, seek specific performance or destination-value damages.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Vyavahāra (Dharmaśāstra / Legal Procedure)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court or market tribunal: buyer petitions after paying; officials compel the seller to deliver goods; a map/route indicates goods carried to another town with a higher market price used for valuation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of a royal sabha: claimant and defendant before a seated judge, goods bundle shown to the side, messenger pointing toward distant town, strong outlines and warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore court scene: king/judge with halo-like arch, gold-leaf on throne ornaments, buyer holding receipt, seller ordered to deliver a wrapped bale; emphasis on dharma and authority.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore didactic painting: labeled panels—(1) payment taken, (2) delivery compelled, (3) destination-value compensation—clean composition, fine detailing of documents and seals.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a qazi-like tribunal: detailed faces, paper contract, goods in transit shown in background vignette, valuation by a clerk, rich textiles and architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कreturnaiva = क्रेतुः + न + एव; दाप्योऽसौ = दाप्यः + असौ; दिग्लाभं = दिक् + लाभम्; दिगागते = दिक् + आगते
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (rules on sale, delivery, defects, fines)
FAQs
It gives a rule of vyavahāra (legal procedure): if a seller takes payment but withholds delivery, the authority should compel delivery or award compensation based on the value obtainable in the place where the goods have been taken.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical dharmaśāstra material—commercial contract enforcement, remedies for breach of sale, and valuation principles—showing the Purana’s coverage of governance and civil law.
It frames honest trade and restitution as dharma: taking payment without delivery is adharma, and enforcing repayment/delivery restores moral order and reduces the wrongdoer’s karmic burden through rectification.