Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 21

Chapter 253 — व्यवहारकथनम्

The Account of Legal Procedure

Devanagari script

चरित्रं बन्धककृतं सवृद्धं दापयेद्वनं सत्यङ्कारकृतं द्रव्यं द्विगुणं प्रतिदापयेत्

Transliteration

caritraṃ bandhakakṛtaṃ savṛddhaṃ dāpayedvanaṃ satyaṅkārakṛtaṃ dravyaṃ dviguṇaṃ pratidāpayet

Translation

应强制偿还质押之债，并连同其所生增益（利息）。但以欺诈性的“誓言确认”所得之财物，应令其加倍返还。

Word by Word

• चरित्रम्: conduct/transaction record
• चरित्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• बन्धक-कृतम्: made by the pledge-holder/mortgagee
• बन्धक-कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्धक (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त, √कृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (bandhakena kṛtam)

• स-वृद्धम्: together with increase/interest
• स-वृद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (with increase/interest)

• दापयेत्: should cause (someone) to pay
• दापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु), णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative: cause to pay)

• वनम्: the property/asset (lit. forest)
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सत्यङ्कार-कृतम्: made with true attestation/marking
• सत्यङ्कार-कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त, √कृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (satyāṅkāreṇa kṛtam = made with true marking/attestation)

• द्रव्यम्: property/thing (money/goods)
• द्रव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• द्विगुणम्: double
• द्विगुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (twofold)

• प्रति-दापयेत्: should cause to repay/return
• प्रति-दापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति (उपसर्ग) + √दा (धातु), णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त; उपसर्गयुक्त

Speaker

Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Court enforcement: recover pledge-debt with agreed increase; punish fraud in oath-based confirmation by ordering double restitution.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Recovery of Pledge-Debt with Interest; Double Restitution for Fraudulent Oath-Confirmation","lookup_keywords":["bandhaka debt","vriddhi interest","satya-ankara fraud","double repayment","legal compulsion"],"quick_summary":"A pledge-debt is to be repaid with its accrued increase; but property obtained through fraudulent oath-confirmation must be returned at twice the amount as a deterrent."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satya (truth) is protected by punitive restitution; unjust gain via false sanctification is strongly penalized.

Application: In adjudication, distinguish legitimate interest from fraudulent acquisition; apply enhanced restitution to discourage perjury and ritualized deceit.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Legal Procedure)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A judge orders repayment: one side shows a debtor repaying principal plus interest; another shows a fraudster swearing falsely before a fire/ritual token and then being compelled to return double coins.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: courtroom with dharma-judge; left panel repayment with added coins; right panel false oath near sacred fire, judge’s stern gesture indicating 'double'; strong reds, ochres, stylized flames","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf coins and decree scroll; sacred fire rendered with ornate gold; contrasting halos—truthful party calm, fraudster anxious; double-stack of coins emphasized","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional split-scene—'vriddhi sahita' repayment and 'dviguna' restitution; neat accounting visuals, restrained palette, precise gestures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed ritual setting with fire altar and witnesses; court scribe records '2x'; piles of coins and textiles rendered finely; expressive faces showing guilt and authority"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: दापयेद्वनम् = दापयेत् + वनम्; compound bandhakakṛtam = बन्धक-कृतम्; satyaṅkārakṛtam = सत्यङ्कार-कृतम्.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 253 (vyavahara penalties and repayment norms)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It gives a rule of vyavahāra (juridical procedure): pledge-debts are to be recovered with their increase (vṛddhi/interest), while wealth obtained through a deceitful sworn attestation is to be restored at double.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves practical civil-law norms—how courts handle pledges, interest, fraud, and restitution—showing its broad, handbook-like scope.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

It frames fraud by false oath as a serious adharma: the doubled repayment functions as both restitution and moral deterrence, aligning social justice with karmic accountability.