Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 65
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
उत्तमो वाधमो वापि पुरुषस्त्रीप्रमापणे शिलां बद्ध्वा क्षिपेदप्सु नरघ्नीं विषदां स्त्रियं
uttamo vādhamo vāpi puruṣastrīpramāpaṇe śilāṃ baddhvā kṣipedapsu naraghnīṃ viṣadāṃ striyaṃ
وہ اعلیٰ ہو یا ادنیٰ، اگر عورت کے سبب مرد کی موت واقع ہو، تو مرد کُش یا زہر دینے والی عورت کو پتھر سے باندھ کر پانی میں پھینک دینا چاہیے۔
Lord Agni (narrating dharma/penal prescriptions to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Prescribes capital punishment by drowning for women who kill men or administer poison, irrespective of social rank; reflects a specific punitive norm in danda-niti.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Punishment for naraghni/viṣadā woman: drowning with a stone","lookup_keywords":["naraghni","visada","shila-baddha","apsu-ksepa","striya-danda"],"quick_summary":"For a woman who causes a man’s death or gives poison, the text prescribes binding her to a stone and casting her into water, without distinction of status."}
Concept: Equality of danda with respect to the gravity of homicide/poisoning (status does not mitigate); danda protects society by removing lethal offenders.
Application: In governance theory, certain crimes trigger non-negotiable sanctions to deter covert killing (especially via poison).
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra / Penal law and social governance)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A riverbank execution: officials bind a condemned woman to a heavy stone; a judge’s order is read; the water is dark and deep, conveying the gravity of the sentence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, riverbank with stylized waves, officials in traditional attire binding a stone, stern judge in background, limited palette with strong outlines, emphasis on ritual-like solemnity without gore.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, dramatic but formal river scene, gold highlights on royal insignia and decree scroll, figures arranged symmetrically, the stone and rope rendered prominently, rich blues for water.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, restrained didactic depiction of the procedure (binding, stone, water), fine linework, minimal violence, focus on legal instruction and roles (judge, guards, scribe).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed riverside pavilion, attendants and guards, subtle facial expressions, careful rendering of rope and stone, naturalistic water and landscape, narrative realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"stern","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाधमो = वा + अधमः; वापि = वा + अपि; पुरुषस्त्रीप्रमापणे = पुरुष-स्त्री-प्रमापणे; क्षिपेदप्सु = क्षिपेत् + अप्सु (त् + अ → द)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (capital punishments and aggravated offences)
FAQs
It states a daṇḍa-vidhāna (penal procedure): for a woman implicated in killing a man—especially as a poisoner—she is to be bound to a stone and cast into water.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana compiles practical governance material—vyavahāra (legal procedure) and rājadharma (statecraft). This verse is part of its penal-law instructions, showing the text’s dharmaśāstra-like scope.
The verse frames severe punishment as social and moral deterrence for grave pāpa (sin) such as murder and poisoning, implying heavy karmic consequence and the necessity of strong corrective measures for maintaining dharma.