Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 42
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
भर्तारं लङ्घयेद्या तां श्वभिः सङ्घातयेत् स्त्रियं सवर्णदूषितां कुर्यात् पिण्डमात्रोपजीविनीं
bhartāraṃ laṅghayedyā tāṃ śvabhiḥ saṅghātayet striyaṃ savarṇadūṣitāṃ kuryāt piṇḍamātropajīvinīṃ
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Prescribes punitive measures for a woman who transgresses marital fidelity and for one who pollutes her varṇa-status; includes social-penal outcomes (public humiliation/violent punishment; reduction to bare subsistence) as framed by the text’s rājadharma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Penalties for marital transgression and varṇa-pollution (as described in rājadharma)","lookup_keywords":["bhartāraṃ laṅghayet","śvabhiḥ saṅghātayet","savarna-dūṣita","piṇḍamātra-upajīvinī","strī-daṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"The verse outlines severe punishments for a woman who violates her husband and for one deemed to have polluted her status; it also mentions reducing livelihood to mere alms/food-balls, reflecting a punitive-social control model in the text."}
Concept: Textual rājadharma here frames social order as enforceable through extreme penalties and livelihood restriction for perceived sexual/marital transgression.
Application: For critical dharma-text study: identify how punishment, purity concepts, and social exclusion are linked; compare with other smṛti prescriptions and later commentarial softening/alternatives.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern royal punishment scene: a woman accused of violating her husband is driven toward public penalty; another figure is shown living on minimal alms (piṇḍa-mātra), indicating social exclusion and reduced livelihood.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic rather than graphic: king’s court with gesture of condemnation, dogs shown as emblematic at a distance, the punished woman in subdued posture, separate vignette of alms-bowl livelihood, strong outlines and moral tableau framing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, iconic court scene with gold-leaf throne and pillars, emphasis on judgment and exile-like reduction to alms, minimal depiction of violence (symbolic dogs at margin), rich ornamentation contrasting with the punished figure’s austerity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic composition: panel showing ‘laṅghana of bhartā’ accusation and royal decree; panel showing ‘piṇḍamātra-upajīvinī’ as social penalty; restrained, instructional rendering.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court issuing sentence, attendants escorting the accused, a later scene of the woman receiving small alms outside the city gate; detailed architecture and subdued palette to convey severity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लङ्घयेद्या → लङ्घयेत् + या ; पिण्डमात्रोपजीविनीं → पिण्डमात्र + उपजीविनीम् (उपजीविन्-स्त्री)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (penal rules on sexual/marital offences)