Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 21
Chapter 253 — व्यवहारकथनम्
The Account of Legal Procedure
चरित्रं बन्धककृतं सवृद्धं दापयेद्वनं सत्यङ्कारकृतं द्रव्यं द्विगुणं प्रतिदापयेत्
caritraṃ bandhakakṛtaṃ savṛddhaṃ dāpayedvanaṃ satyaṅkārakṛtaṃ dravyaṃ dviguṇaṃ pratidāpayet
رہن کے قرض کی رقم کو اس کی بڑھوتری (سود) سمیت ادا کرایا جائے۔ لیکن دھوکے سے ‘سچ کی توثیق/سَتیَنگکار’ کے ذریعے حاصل کیا گیا مال دوگنا کر کے واپس دلایا جائے۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Court enforcement: recover pledge-debt with agreed increase; punish fraud in oath-based confirmation by ordering double restitution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Recovery of Pledge-Debt with Interest; Double Restitution for Fraudulent Oath-Confirmation","lookup_keywords":["bandhaka debt","vriddhi interest","satya-ankara fraud","double repayment","legal compulsion"],"quick_summary":"A pledge-debt is to be repaid with its accrued increase; but property obtained through fraudulent oath-confirmation must be returned at twice the amount as a deterrent."}
Concept: Satya (truth) is protected by punitive restitution; unjust gain via false sanctification is strongly penalized.
Application: In adjudication, distinguish legitimate interest from fraudulent acquisition; apply enhanced restitution to discourage perjury and ritualized deceit.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Legal Procedure)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A judge orders repayment: one side shows a debtor repaying principal plus interest; another shows a fraudster swearing falsely before a fire/ritual token and then being compelled to return double coins.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: courtroom with dharma-judge; left panel repayment with added coins; right panel false oath near sacred fire, judge’s stern gesture indicating 'double'; strong reds, ochres, stylized flames","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf coins and decree scroll; sacred fire rendered with ornate gold; contrasting halos—truthful party calm, fraudster anxious; double-stack of coins emphasized","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional split-scene—'vriddhi sahita' repayment and 'dviguna' restitution; neat accounting visuals, restrained palette, precise gestures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed ritual setting with fire altar and witnesses; court scribe records '2x'; piles of coins and textiles rendered finely; expressive faces showing guilt and authority"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दापयेद्वनम् = दापयेत् + वनम्; compound bandhakakṛtam = बन्धक-कृतम्; satyaṅkārakṛtam = सत्यङ्कार-कृतम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 253 (vyavahara penalties and repayment norms)
FAQs
It gives a rule of vyavahāra (juridical procedure): pledge-debts are to be recovered with their increase (vṛddhi/interest), while wealth obtained through a deceitful sworn attestation is to be restored at double.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves practical civil-law norms—how courts handle pledges, interest, fraud, and restitution—showing its broad, handbook-like scope.
It frames fraud by false oath as a serious adharma: the doubled repayment functions as both restitution and moral deterrence, aligning social justice with karmic accountability.