Agni Purana

पतिव्रतासु च स्त्रीषु विधबास्वतुरासु च । जीवन्तीनान्तु तासां ये संहरेयुः स्ववान्धवाः ।। २२२.

So also for women who are devoted wives, widows, or those without protectors; if their relatives seize their property while they live,

ताञ्‌छिष्याच्चौरदण्डेन धार्म्मिकः कृथिवीपतिः । सामान्यतो हृतञ्चौरैस्तद्वै दद्यात् स्वयं नृपः ।। २२२.

The righteous king should punish them with the penalty for theft; if property is taken by thieves, the king himself should restore it.

चौररक्षाधिकारिब्यो राजापि हृतमाप्नुयात् । अहृते यो हृतं ब्रूयान्निः सार्यो दण्ड्य एव सः ।। २२२.

Even the king may recover stolen property from those responsible for protection against theft; whoever falsely claims stolen property should be expelled and punished.

न तद्राज्ञा प्रदातव्यं गृहे यद्‌ गृहगैर्हृतं । स्राष्ट्रपण्यादादद्याद्राजा विंशतिमं द्विज ।। २२२.

A king must not accept in his house that which has been stolen by household thieves; but from goods of the realm, the king should take a twentieth part from a twice-born man.

शुल्कांशं परदेशाच्च क्षयव्ययप्रकाशकं । ज्ञात्वा सङ्कल्पयेच्छुल्कं लाभं वणिग्यथाप्नुयात् ।। २२२.

Knowing the share of tolls from foreign lands, which reveals loss and expenditure, he should determine the toll so that the merchant may gain profit.

विंशांशं लाभमादद्याद्दण्डनीयस्ततोऽन्यया । स्त्रीणां प्रव्रजितानाञ्च९ तरशुल्कं विवर्जयेत् ।। २२२.

He should take a twentieth part of the profit; if there is a penalty, then more. But from women and ascetics, he should not take any crossing toll.

तरेषु दासदोषेण नष्टं दासास्तु दापयेत् । शूकधान्येषु षड्‌भागं शिम्बिधान्ये तथाष्टमं ।। २२२.

If something is lost due to the fault of servants at the crossing, the servants must make restitution; from grain in the husk, he should take a sixth part, and from pulse, an eighth part.

राजा वन्यार्थमादद्याद्देशकालानुरूपकं । पञ्चषङ्भागमादद्याद् राजा पशुहिरण्ययोः ।। २२२.

The king should take a share for forest produce, appropriate to place and time; from cattle and gold, the king should take a fifth or a sixth part.

गन्धौषधिरसानाञ्च भाण्डानां सर्वस्यास्ममयस्य च । पत्रशाकतृणानाञ्च वंशवैणवचर्म्मणं ।। २२२.

From perfumes, medicinal herbs, juices, all kinds of vessels, and all items made of stone, as well as leaves, vegetables, grasses, bamboo, flutes, and leather—

वैदलानाञ्च भाण्डानां सर्वस्याश्ममयस्य च । षड्‌भागमेव चादद्यान्मधुमांसस्य सर्षिपः ।। २२२.

And from wooden vessels, and all items made of stone, he should take a sixth part; likewise, from honey, meat, and mustard.

म्रियन्नपि न चादद्याद् ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तथा करं । यस्य राज्ञस्तु विषये श्रोत्रियः सीदति क्षुधा ।। २२२.

Even if dying, he should not take tax from Brahmins; if a learned Brahmin suffers from hunger in the king’s domain—

तस्य सीदति तद्राष्ट्रं व्याधिदुर्भिक्षतस्तरैः । श्रुतं वृत्तन्तु विज्ञाय वृत्तिं तस्य प्रकल्पयेत् ।। २२२.

That kingdom declines due to disease, famine, and calamity; knowing this, the king should provide for his livelihood.

क्षेच्च सर्वतस्त्वेनं पिता पुत्रमिवौरसं । संरक्ष्यमाणो राज्ञा यः कुरुते धर्ममन्वहं ।। २२२.

He should protect him everywhere, as a father does his own son; one who is protected by the king and practices righteousness daily—

तेनायुर्वर्द्धते राज्ञो द्रविणं राष्ट्रमेव च । कर्म्म कुर्युर्न्नरेन्द्रस्य मासेनैकञ्च१० शिल्पिनः ।। २२२.

By him, the king’s life, wealth, and kingdom increase; artisans should perform their work for the king, one task each month.

राजधर्माः पुष्कर उवाच वक्ष्येऽन्तः पुरचिन्तां च धर्माद्याः पुरुषार्थकाः । अन्योन्यरक्षया तेषां सेवा कार्या स्त्रिया नृपैः ।। २२४.

Puṣkara said: I will now explain the concerns of the inner palace, and the duties that lead to the aims of life; among them, mutual protection and service by women must be ensured by kings.

धर्ममूलोऽर्थविटपस्तथा कर्म्मफलो महान् । त्रिवर्गपादपस्तत्र रक्षया फलभाग्‌ भवेत् ।। २२४.

Righteousness is the root, wealth is the trunk, and great is the fruit of action; in this tree of the three aims, by protection, one obtains a share of the fruit.

कामाधीनाः१ स्त्रियो राम तदर्थं रत्नसङ्‌ग्रहः । सेव्यास्ता नातिसेव्यास्च भूभुजा विषयैषिणा ।। २२४.

Women are subject to desire, O Rāma; for that reason, the collection of jewels is important. The king who seeks to enjoy his realm should serve them, but not excessively.

दुष्टान्याचरते४ या तु नाभिनन्दति तत्कथां। ऐक्यं द्विषद्भिर्व्रजति गर्वं वहति चोद्धता ।। २२४.

A wicked woman acts wrongly, does not welcome such talk, joins with enemies, and bears pride with arrogance.

चुम्बिता मार्ष्टि वदनं दत्तन्न बहु मन्यते । स्वपित्यादौ प्रसुप्तापि तथा पश्चाद्विबुध्यते ।। २२४.

When kissed, she wipes her face, does not value the food given to her, sleeps at the beginning and even after, and wakes only later.

स्पृष्टा धुनोति गात्राणि गात्रञ्च विरुणाद्धि या । ईषच्छृणोति वाक्यानि प्रियाण्यपि पराङ्‌मुखी ।। २२४.

When touched, she shakes her limbs and turns her body away; she barely listens to words, even loving ones, and turns her face aside.

तत्कामितासु च स्त्रीसु मध्यस्थेव च लक्ष्यते । ज्ञातमण्डनकालापि न करोति च मण्डनं ।। २२४.

Among women who are desired, one who is indifferent is recognized by this: though she knows it is time to adorn herself, she does not do so.

दृष्ट्वैव हृष्टा भवति वीक्षिते च पराङ्‌मुखी ।। २२४.

At the mere sight, she becomes delighted, and when looked at, she turns her face away.

दृश्यमाना तथान्यत्र दृष्टिं क्षिपति चञ्चलां । तथाप्युपावर्त्तयितुं नैव शक्रोत्यशेषतः ।। २२४.

When being observed elsewhere, she casts her restless glance, yet even then she cannot fully turn away.

विवृणीति तथाह्गानि स्वस्या गुह्यानि भार्गव । गहितञ्च तथैवाङ्गं प्रयत्नेन निगूहति ।। २२४.

In this way, O Bhārgava, she reveals her own limbs and secrets, yet carefully conceals the part that is grasped.

तद्दर्शने च कुरुते वालालिड्गनचुम्बनं । आभाष्यमाणा भवति सत्यवाक्या तथैव च ।। २२४.

Upon seeing him, she engages in playful gestures, embraces, and kisses; when spoken to, she responds truthfully as well.

स्पृष्टा पुलकितैरङ्गैः स्वेदेनैव च भज्यते । करोति च तथा राम सुलभद्रव्ययाचनं ।। २२४.

When touched, her limbs become thrilled and she is covered with sweat; and, O Rāma, she readily asks for small gifts.

ततः स्वल्पमपि प्राप्य करोति परमां मुदं । नामसङ्कीर्त्तनादेव मुदिता बहु मन्यते ।। २२४.

Then, even upon receiving a little, she feels the utmost joy; simply by hearing her name praised, she considers herself greatly delighted.

करकजाङ्काङ्कितान्यस्य फलानि प्रेषयत्यपि । तत्प्रेषितञ्च हृदये विन्यसत्यपि चादरात् ।। २२४.

She sends him fruits marked by her own hand, and with affection, she places what he sends to her upon her heart.

आलिङ्गनैश्च गात्राणि लिम्पतीवामृतेन या । सुप्ते स्वपित्यथादौ च तथा तस्य विबुध्यते ।। २२४.

With embraces, she covers his body as if with nectar; when he sleeps, she too sleeps, and at first, she awakens as he does.