Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 67
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
क्षेत्रवेश्मवनग्रामविवीतखलदाहकाः राजपत्न्य् अभिगामी च दग्धव्यास्तु कटाग्निना
kṣetraveśmavanagrāmavivītakhaladāhakāḥ rājapatny abhigāmī ca dagdhavyāstu kaṭāgninā
جو کھیت، گھر، جنگل، گاؤں، ویویت (محصور چراگاہ) یا کھلیان کو آگ لگائیں، اور جو بادشاہ کی بیوی کی حرمت شکنی کرے—انہیں سخت آگ (کٹاگنی) سے جلا کر سزا دی جائے۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Identifies arson targets (field, house, forest, village, pasture enclosure, threshing-floor) and adultery with the king’s wife as capital offences punished by burning; used for state security and public safety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Capital offences: arson of agrarian/settlement assets and violation of the king’s wife","lookup_keywords":["kshetra-daha","veshma-daha","vana-grama-daha","vivita","khala","rajapatny-abhigama"],"quick_summary":"Arson against key economic and communal assets, and violating the king’s wife, are treated as the gravest crimes and punished by burning with fierce fire."}
Weapon Type: Agni (fire) as destructive instrument
Concept: Protection of communal resources and royal legitimacy is dharma of kingship; crimes that endanger many (arson) or destabilize sovereignty (violating queen) merit maximal danda.
Application: State law prioritizes safeguarding food systems, habitation, and royal household integrity through strict deterrence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Criminal Law, and Social Offences)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Village/Forest/Agrarian landscape
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warning tableau: multiple arson scenes—field, house, forest edge, village huts, enclosed pasture, threshing-floor—alongside a guarded palace inner quarter symbolizing the king’s wife; the judge orders kaṭāgni punishment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panoramic agrarian landscape with stylized flames at field/house/forest/village, vivita enclosure and khala shown clearly, palace inner chamber guarded, central judge with decree 'kaṭāgni', earthy pigments, strong contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate central royal figure and decree, gold-leaf flames stylized, side panels of burning field and village, palace with queen behind lattice, rich reds/oranges for fire, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic map-like scene labeling kshetra, veshma, vana, grama, vivita, khala; separate vignette of palace transgression prevented by guards; fine linework and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed rural scenes with controlled flames, villagers and guards responding, palace pavilion with discreet depiction of royal household, court officials issuing sentence, naturalistic landscape and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"authoritative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षेत्रवेश्मवनग्रामविवीतखलदाहकाः = क्षेत्र-वेश्म-वन-ग्राम-विवीत-खल-दाहकाः; राजपत्न्य् अभिगामी = राज-पत्न्याः + अभिगामी (visarga/ending resolved); दग्धव्यास्तु = दग्धव्याः + तु; कटाग्निना = कट-अग्निना
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (arson and sexual offences in rajadharma)
FAQs
It gives a rajadharma rule of penal administration: arson across key property categories (fields, homes, forests, villages, enclosures, threshing-floors) and violation of the queen are classified as capital offences, with execution prescribed as burning (kaṭāgni).
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana compiles practical statecraft and jurisprudence; this verse functions like a legal digest entry defining offences (arson, royal sexual transgression) and specifying a concrete penalty, showing its coverage of governance and criminal law.
Arson and violation of protected royal relations are treated as grievous harms to social order (dharma); the severe punishment underscores their heavy pāpa (sin) and the king’s duty to uphold justice and protect the community.