Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 16
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
दत्ताप्यदत्ता सा तस्य राज्ञा दण्ड्यः शतद्वयं प्रदाय कन्यां यो ऽन्यस्मै पुनस्तां सम्प्रयच्छति
dattāpyadattā sā tasya rājñā daṇḍyaḥ śatadvayaṃ pradāya kanyāṃ yo 'nyasmai punastāṃ samprayacchati
纵使已依仪式交付，她亦当视为未交付：凡将少女嫁出之后，又把同一女子再嫁与他人者，王当加以惩罚，并令其缴纳二百（波那）之罚金。
Lord Agni (in instruction on rajadharma to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Prevents double-allotment of a bride (breach of marriage agreement); provides a concrete fine and clarifies that a second giving is invalid even if a prior formal giving occurred.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Invalidity of re-giving a maiden and the royal fine","lookup_keywords":["dattā-adattā","kanyā","punar-dāna","rāja-daṇḍa","śatadvaya"],"quick_summary":"A maiden once given cannot be given again; if someone reassigns her to another, the act is treated as invalid and the offender pays a fine of two hundred paṇas, safeguarding marital certainty."}
Concept: Protection of persons from being treated as transferable property; sanctity and finality of saṃskāra commitments.
Application: Treat double-contracting in marriage as void and punishable; prioritize the woman’s security and social order.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Legal Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dispute where a guardian attempts to give the same maiden to a second suitor; the king’s court declares the second giving invalid; a fine is imposed; the maiden stands with attendants, protected.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic court scene with strong outlines, guardian being admonished, king gesturing prohibition, maiden with attendants in dignified posture, symbolic scroll marking ‘adattā’","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central king with gold arch, two suitors on either side, guardian in the middle, gold coin fine depicted prominently, rich ornamentation and temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: first giving, attempted second giving, and judgment; soft palette, precise facial expressions, emphasis on legal invalidation","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, layered court interior, scribes documenting prior gift, officials stopping the second ceremony, fine paid to treasury, intricate costumes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दत्ता+अपि+अदत्ता → दत्ताप्यदत्ता; सः+अन्यस्मै → योऽन्यस्मै (यो + अन्यस्मै); पुनः+ताम् → पुनस्ताम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (vivāha-related penalties and procedural rules)
FAQs
It gives a rule of vyavahāra (legal procedure): re-assigning the same maiden to another after an earlier giving is treated as invalid and punishable, with a fixed monetary fine (two hundred paṇas).
Beyond myths and worship, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft—court-enforceable norms on marriage transactions, invalid conveyance, and standardized fines—showing its coverage of governance and civil law.
It frames marital giving as a dharmic act that must not be manipulated; violating it is adharma that warrants royal punishment, reinforcing ethical restraint and social order as part of righteous conduct.