Agni Purana

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.

दाप्यः सर्वान्नृपेणार्थान्न ग्राह्यस्त्वनिवेदितः । स्मृत्योर्विरोधे न्यायस्तु बलवान् व्यवहारतः ।। २५३.

All matters should be made to pay by the king, but not those unreported; when there is a conflict between tradition and reason, reason prevails in legal matters.

प्रमाणं लिखितं भुक्तिः साक्षिणश्चेति कीर्त्तितम् ।। २५३.

Documentary evidence, possession, and witnesses are declared as proof.

एषामन्यतमाभावे दिव्यान्यतममुच्यते । सर्वेष्वेव विवादेषु बलवत्युत्तरा क्रिया ।। २५३.

In the absence of any of these, an ordeal is prescribed; in all disputes, the reply has greater force.

आधौ प्रतिग्रहे क्रीते यूर्वा तु बलवत्तरा । पश्यतो ब्रुवतो भूमेर्हानिर्विंशतिवार्षिकी ।। २५३.

In cases of deposit, acceptance, or purchase, the youth (of the matter) is stronger; for land, loss occurs after twenty years, even if seen or declared.

परेण भुज्यमाना या धनस्य दशवार्षिकी । आधिसीमोपनिःक्षेपजडवाचलधनैर्विना ।। २५३.

For property enjoyed by another for ten years, except for pledged, boundary, deposited, or immovable property.

तथोपनिधिराजस्त्रीश्रोत्रियाणां धनैरपि । आध्यादीनां विहर्तारं धनिने दापयेद्धनं ।। २५३.

Likewise, for deposits belonging to the king, women, or Brahmins, and for the wealth of pledged property and the like, the one who misuses it should pay the owner.

दण्ड्य च तत्समं राज्ञे शक्त्यपेक्ष्यमथापि वा । आगमोप्यधिको भुक्तिं विना पूर्वक्रमागतां ।। २५३.

One who is punishable shall pay to the king an amount equal to what was taken, or as much as is possible; and if there is additional gain without prior possession, that too must be given.

आगमोपि बलन्नैव भुक्तिः स्तोकापि यत्र न । आगमेन विशुद्धेन भोगो याति प्रमाणताम् ।। २५३.

Even if there is evidence, it is not strong where there is not even a little possession; only with pure evidence does enjoyment attain validity.

अविशुद्धागमो भोगः प्रामाण्यं नाधिगच्छति। आगमस्तु कृतो येन सोबियुक्तस्तमुद्धरेत् ।। २५३.

Enjoyment based on impure evidence does not attain authority; but if someone has made the evidence and is involved, he should be made to restore it.

न तत्सुतस्तःसुतो वा भुक्तिस्तत्र गरीयसी । योभियुक्तः परेतः स्यात् तस्य ऋक्‌थात्तमुद्धरेत् ।। २५३.

In that case, neither the son nor the grandson has greater right to enjoyment; but if someone else is involved and deceased, his share should be restored from his property.