Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 70
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
अदेशकालसम्भाषं सहावस्थानमेव च स्त्री निषेधे शतं दद्याद् द्विशतन्तु दमं पुमान्
adeśakālasambhāṣaṃ sahāvasthānameva ca strī niṣedhe śataṃ dadyād dviśatantu damaṃ pumān
نامناسب جگہ یا وقت پر گفتگو کرنا اور نامناسب طور پر ساتھ رہنا—جہاں عورت پر پابندی/نہی ہو—تو عورت سو (پن) جرمانہ دے، اور مرد دو سو (پن) جرمانہ دے۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Sets monetary fines for improper conversation/association at wrong time/place under restrictions, with higher liability for the man; usable as a template for adjudicating ‘improper association’ offences.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Adeśa-kāla-saṃbhāṣa & saha-avasthāna—Fines under strī-niṣedha","lookup_keywords":["adeśa-kāla","saṃbhāṣa","sahāvasthāna","strī-niṣedha","paṇa-daṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"Improper conversation or staying together in prohibited contexts incurs fines: 100 paṇas for the woman and 200 for the man. The rule operationalizes social boundaries via monetary deterrence."}
Concept: Maryādā (social boundary) enforced through proportionate fines; differential responsibility assigned to the man.
Application: Judicial assessment: treat ‘improper time/place’ and ‘inappropriate co-presence’ as finable offences; apply fixed paṇa schedule.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Law, Social Conduct, and Penalties)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A city street or garden at an ‘improper’ hour where a man and woman converse; a court clerk later records the offence and the fine amounts 100 and 200 on a tally board.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two figures conversing under a moonlit pavilion, a guard observing, then a small court vignette with palm-leaf ledger showing ‘100’ and ‘200’, bold outlines and flat color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate pavilion scene with rich textiles, discreet guard, inset of king’s accountant with gold-highlighted ledger and coin piles labeled 100/200 paṇas, decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional split-scene: (1) adeśa-kāla conversation, (2) saha-avasthāna, (3) fine assessment with coin stacks, clean linework and gentle shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, nocturnal garden conversation with attendants in background, then a detailed office scene of scribes calculating fines, realistic coins, architectural interiors, caption cartouches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अदेशकालसम्भाषं = अदेश + काल + सम्भाषम् (तत्पुरुष); सहावस्थानमेव = सहावस्थानम् + एव; द्विशतन्तु = द्विशतम् + तु
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (rules on strī-saṃbandha offences and paṇa-based fines)
FAQs
It specifies a legal rule of vyavahāra: graded monetary fines for improper conversation or co-presence at improper times/places, with a higher penalty assigned to the man.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical jurisprudence (rajadharma)—fine schedules and conduct-regulation—showing the text’s coverage of governance and social law alongside ritual and theology.
By discouraging improper association and safeguarding social restraint (niyama), it frames ethical discipline as dharma; compliance reduces social harm and karmic demerit arising from misconduct.