Agni Purana

विक्रीय पण्यं मूल्येन क्रेत्रे यञ्च न दीयते । विक्रीयासम्प्रदानन्तद्विवादपदमुच्यते ।। २५३.

When an item is sold for a price but the payment is not given to the seller, that is called a dispute regarding the non-delivery after sale.

क्रीत्वा मूल्येन यत्पण्यं क्रेता न बहु मन्यते । क्रीत्वा मूल्येन यत् पण्यं दुष्क्रीतं मन्यतेक्रयी ।। २५३.

When a buyer, after purchasing an item for its price, is dissatisfied with it, or considers the purchased item to be defective, that is a dispute concerning a wrongful sale.

पाखण्डनैगमादीनां स्थितिः समय उच्यते । समयस्यानपाकर्म तद्विवादपदं स्मृतम् ।। २५३.

The established rules among heretics, merchants, and others are called agreements; violation of such agreements is regarded as a matter for dispute.

सेतुकेदारमर्य्यादाविकृष्टाकृष्टनिश्चयाः । शेत्राधिकारे यत्र स्युर्विवादः क्षेत्रजस्तु सः ।। २५३.

Where there are disputes about boundaries, embankments, field limits, or the distinction between cultivated and uncultivated land, that is called a dispute concerning land.

वैवाहिको विधिः स्त्रीणं यत्र पुंसाञ्च कीर्त्त्यते । स्त्रीपुंसंयोगसंज्ञन्तु तद्विवादपदं स्मृतम् ।। २५३.

Where the marriage rules for women and men are discussed, that is known as a dispute regarding the union of man and woman.

विभागोर्थस्य पैत्रस्य पुत्रैर्यस्तु प्रकल्प्यते । दायभागमिति प्रोक्तं विवादपदमुच्यते ।। २५३.

When sons divide ancestral property for the purpose of partition, that is called a dispute regarding inheritance.

सहसा क्रियते कर्म्म यत् किञ्चित् बलदर्पितैः । तत् साहसमिति प्रोक्तं विवादपदमुच्यते ।। २५३.

Whatever act is done suddenly by those filled with force or arrogance, that is called a violent act and is a matter for dispute.

देशजातिकुलादीनामाक्रोशत्यङ्गसंयुतम् । यद्वचः प्रतिकूलार्थं वाक्पारुष्यं तदुच्यते ।। २५३.

Any speech, accompanied by insults about country, caste, or family, that is hostile in meaning, is called verbal abuse.

परगात्रेष्वभिद्रोहो हस्तपादायुधादिभिः । अग्न्यादिभिश्चोपघातैर्दण्डपारुष्यमुच्यते ।। २५३.

Assault on another's body with hands, feet, weapons, or by means such as fire, is called physical abuse.

अक्षवर्ज्जशलाकाद्यैर्दैवतं द्यूतभुच्यते । पञ्चक्रीड़ावयोभिश्च प्राणिद्यूतसमाह्वयः ।। २५३.

Gambling with dice, sticks, and the like is called gambling; and contests involving five kinds of games with living beings are called animal gambling.

प्रकीर्णकः पुनर्ज्ञेयो व्यवहारो निराश्रयः । क्रियाबेदान्मनुष्याणां शतशाखो निगद्यते ।। २५३.

A miscellaneous case is to be known as a transaction without a fixed category; the various types of human actions are said to have a hundred branches.

व्यवहारोऽष्टादशपदस्तेषां भेदोऽथ वै शतम् । क्रियाभेदान्मनुष्याणां शतशाखो निगद्यते ।। २५३.

There are eighteen kinds of legal disputes, and each of them is said to have a hundred subdivisions, corresponding to the various types of human actions.

व्यवहारान्नृपः पश्येज् ज्ञानिविप्रैरकोपनः । शत्रुमित्रसमाः सभ्या अलोभाः श्रुतिवेदिनः ।। २५३.

The king should examine legal disputes with wise and calm Brahmins, with judges who are impartial to friend and foe, free from greed, and learned in the Vedas.

अपश्यता१ कार्य्यवशात् सभ्यैर्विप्रं नियोजयेत् । रागाल्लोभाद्‌भयाद्वापि स्मृत्यपेतादिकारिणः ।। २५३.

If the judges are unable to see the matter due to circumstances, a Brahmin should be appointed by them; those who act out of passion, greed, or fear, and who deviate from the law, should not be appointed.

सभ्याः पृथक् पृथग् दण्ड्या विवादाद्‌द्विगुणो दमः । स्मृत्याचारव्यपेतेन मार्गेण धर्षितः परैः ।। २५३.

If judges individually or collectively are found guilty in a dispute, the penalty for them is double; if they act contrary to the path of law and custom, being corrupted by others.

आवेदयति यद्राज्ञे व्यवहारपदं हि तत्। प्रत्यर्थिनोऽग्रतो लेख्यं यथा वेदितमर्थिना ।। २५३.

Whatever matter is reported to the king is called a legal case; the statement of the defendant should be recorded as understood by the plaintiff.

समामासतदर्द्धाहर्नामजात्यादिचिह्नितम् । श्रुतार्थस्योत्तरं लेख्यं पूर्वावेदकसन्निधौ ।। २५३.

The reply should be written clearly, with the date, names, caste, and other marks, in the presence of the one who first made the statement and after hearing the matter.

ततोऽर्थी लेखयेत्सद्यः प्रतिज्ञातार्थसाधनम् । तत्सिद्धौ सिद्धिमाप्नोति विपरीतमतोऽन्यथा ।। २५३.

Then, the claimant should immediately write down the means for fulfilling the pledged matter; if that is accomplished, he attains success; otherwise, the result is the opposite.

चतुष्पाद्व्यवहारोयं विवादेषूपदर्शितः । अभियोगमनिस्तीर्य्यनैनं प्रत्यबियोजयेत् ।। २५३.

This fourfold procedure is prescribed in disputes; having completed the plaint, one should respond to it accordingly.

अभियुक्तञ्च नान्येन त्यक्तं विप्रकृतिं नयेत् । कुर्य्यात् प्रत्यभियोगन्तु कलहे साहसेषु च ।। २५३.

One who is accused should not be led away by another after being released, unless there is misconduct; but a counterclaim should be made in cases of quarrel or violence.

उभयोः प्रतिभूर्ग्राह्यः समर्थः कार्य्यनिर्गये । निह्नवे भावितो दद्याद्धनं राज्ञे तु तत्समम् ।। २५३.

A competent surety should be taken from both parties for the resolution of the matter; if concealment is suspected, he should pay the equivalent amount to the king.

मिथ्याभियोगाद् द्विगुणमभियोगाद्धनं हरेत् । साहसस्तेयपारुष्येष्वभिशापात्यये स्त्रियाः ।। २५३.

For a false accusation, twice the amount claimed should be taken; in cases of violence, theft, abuse, curses, or offenses involving women, the penalty is as prescribed.

विचारयेत्यद्य एव कालोऽन्यत्रेछया स्मृतः । देशदेशान्तरं याति सृक्कणी परिलेढि च ।। २५३.

If one says, 'Let it be examined,' the time is immediately; otherwise, it is considered at one's discretion, if he goes to another place or licks his lips.

ललाटं स्विद्यते चास्य मुखवैवर्ण्यमेव च । स्वभावाद्विकृतं गच्छेन्मनोवाक्‌कायकर्मभिः ।। २५३.

His forehead sweats, and his face loses color; by nature, he becomes disturbed in mind, speech, and bodily actions.

अभियोगेऽथ वा साक्ष्ये वाग्दुष्टं परिकीर्त्तितः । सन्दिग्धार्थं स्वतन्त्रो यः साधयेद्यश्च निष्पतेत् ।। २५३.

In a claim or in testimony, one whose speech is corrupt is declared so; whoever, being independent, resolves a doubtful matter or withdraws, is recognized.

न चाहूतो वदेत् किञ्चिद्धनी दण्ड्यश्च स स्मृतः । साक्षिषूभयतः सत्सु साक्षिणः पूर्ववादिनः ।। २५३.

If the summoned debtor does not say anything, he is considered punishable; when there are witnesses on both sides, the witnesses of the plaintiff speak first.

पूर्वपक्षेऽधरीभूते भवन्त्युत्तरवादिनः । सगणश्चेद्विवादः स्यात्तत्र हीनन्तु दापयेत् ।। २५३.

If the first statement is not established, the defendants speak; if the dispute is with a group, the one who is deficient should be made to pay.

दत्तं पणं वसुञ्चैव धनिनो धनमेव च। छलन्निरस्य दूतेन व्यवहारान्नयेन्नृपः ।। २५३.

Money, goods, and wealth given or owed—if denied, the king should recover them through an agent in legal proceedings.

भूतमप्यर्थमप्यस्तं हीयते व्यवहारतः । निह्नते निखिलानेकमेकदेशविभावितम् ।। २५३.

Even an existing or past matter may be lost through litigation, whether wholly denied, affirmed, or partially established.