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
Those who set fire to a field, a dwelling, a forest, a village, an enclosed pasture (vivīta), or a threshing-floor (khala), and also one who violates the king’s wife—these are to be burned with a fierce fire (kaṭāgni) as punishment.
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.