Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 33
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
द्विगुणं दापयेच्छिन्ने पथि सीम्नि जलाशये द्रव्याणि यो हरेद्यस्य ज्ञानतो ऽज्ञानतो ऽपिवा
dviguṇaṃ dāpayecchinne pathi sīmni jalāśaye dravyāṇi yo haredyasya jñānato 'jñānato 'pivā
Nếu ai chiếm đoạt tài vật của người khác tại lối đi bị hư hỏng, tại ranh giới, hoặc tại hồ chứa nước, dù cố ý hay vô ý, thì phải bị buộc bồi hoàn gấp đôi giá trị.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidelines for adjudicating theft and assessing restitution/fines in sensitive public locations (roads, boundaries, reservoirs).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Double restitution for appropriation at roads, boundaries, and reservoirs","lookup_keywords":["dviguṇa-dāna","steya","sīmā-vyavahāra","jalāśaya","mārga-apaharaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Appropriation of another’s property at vulnerable public/sacred utility sites (road breaks, boundary lines, reservoirs) entails double repayment, even if claimed to be unintentional."}
Concept: Aggravated liability for harm to public trust and shared resources; accountability applies even under ignorance claims.
Application: In judgments, treat theft from public-utility zones as higher culpability; enforce restitution to deter erosion of communal safety.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: civil law, fines, and restitution)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where a judge-king orders double restitution for a man caught taking goods near a broken roadway, boundary stone, and a reservoir embankment; scribes record the judgment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, a dharmic king seated in sabha with palm-leaf scribes, a thief near a boundary stone and a small reservoir, emphasis on public order, traditional ornaments and architecture","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold leaf, frontal king on throne, attendants and scribe, symbolic boundary marker and water reservoir at sides, rich textiles and halo-like aureole for royal authority","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, detailed court scene with labeled objects (road breach, boundary line, reservoir), calm didactic composition, fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intricate court interior, the accused presenting goods, boundary stone and reservoir shown in vignette panels, fine detailing of costumes and legal register"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dāpayet + chinne → dāpayecchinne (त् + छ → च्छ); jñānataḥ 'ajñānataḥ → jñānato 'jñānato (विसर्ग-लोप); 'api vā → 'pivā (अपि + वा संधि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (Vyavahara/Rajadharma: theft, fines, restitution)
FAQs
This verse imparts vyavahāra-vidyā (practical civil jurisprudence): the rule of imposing double restitution for wrongful taking of property in sensitive public/common locations like roads, boundaries, and reservoirs.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves governance and legal norms (rājadharma), including compensation standards and protection of public infrastructure—showing its scope as a compendium of statecraft and social regulation.
By mandating restitution (especially double), the text frames property-violation as a dharmic offense requiring corrective repayment, reducing the wrongdoer’s karmic burden while restoring social order and the rightful owner’s due.