Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 33
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
दत्वा कन्यां हरन् दण्ड्यो व्ययं दद्याच्च सोदयम् मृतायां दत्तमादद्यात् परिशोध्योभयव्ययम्
datvā kanyāṃ haran daṇḍyo vyayaṃ dadyācca sodayam mṛtāyāṃ dattamādadyāt pariśodhyobhayavyayam
若已将少女出嫁而后又将其夺回者，当受惩罚；并须偿付诸般费用，连同利息。若少女已亡，则所给婚礼之赠物可取回；并须清偿双方所耗之费用。
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purāṇa’s rajadharma/vyavahāra discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Civil/criminal rule for wrongful taking back of a married maiden; assessment of danda (penalty), restitution of expenses with interest, and return of marriage-gift if the maiden has died.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Penalty for carrying off a given maiden; restitution of expenses and return of gift","lookup_keywords":["kanyāharaṇa","danda","vivāha vyaya","sodaya","dattam ādāna"],"quick_summary":"A person who re-seizes a maiden after giving her in marriage is punishable and must reimburse wedding expenses with interest. If she has died, the marriage-gift may be reclaimed, and both sides’ expenses must be settled."}
Concept: Adharma in marriage transactions is corrected through danda (punishment) and ṛṇa-śodhana (restitution with interest).
Application: Guidance for judges/arbitrators to compute compensation and deter coercive marital disputes.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra—civil and criminal law; marriage and property disputes)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where an offender is fined for abducting/taking back a bride; scribes calculate expenses and interest; gifts and ledgers are displayed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rāja in sabhā with attendants, accused standing with folded hands, accountants with palm-leaf ledgers, wedding gifts shown as bundles, strong narrative gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style court of justice, gold work on throne and ornaments, visible coin piles and gift trays, scribe writing restitution order, frontal iconic arrangement.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of legal procedure: judge, parties, written order, expense items labeled, refined lines and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtroom with registers, interest calculation scene, attendants holding gift items, expressive but restrained faces, architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दद्याच्च → दद्यात् च; सोदयम् → स-उदयम्; दत्तमादद्यात् → दत्तम् आदद्यात्; परिशोध्योभयव्ययम् → परिशोध्यः उभय-व्ययम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (vyavahāra rules on marriage disputes and penalties)
FAQs
It gives a vyavahāra (legal) rule: abducting/taking away a maiden after she has been duly given in marriage entails punishment and restitution—payment of incurred expenses, even with interest; if she has died, recovery of the given gift is allowed and both parties’ expenses must be settled.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves dharmaśāstra-style governance material—marriage disputes, fines, interest, and restitution—showing it functions as a compendium of practical law and statecraft alongside spiritual teaching.
By prescribing punishment and restitution for violating a lawful marriage arrangement, the verse frames social order (dharma) as morally binding; repairing harm through compensation is treated as a necessary act of rectification to reduce wrongdoing and its karmic consequences.