Agni Purana

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.

न तत्र कारणं भुक्तिरागमेन विनाकृता । बलोपाधिविनिर्वृत्तान् व्यवहारान्निवर्त्तयेत् ।। २५३.

Enjoyment established without evidence is not valid there; transactions arising from force or coercion should be annulled.

स्त्रीनक्तमन्तरागारवहिःशत्रुकृतस्तथा । मत्तोन्मत्तार्त्तव्यसनिबालभीतप्रयोजितः ।। २५३.

Likewise, if made by a woman, at night, in a private chamber, outside, or by an enemy, or by one who is intoxicated, insane, afflicted, a child, or out of fear.

असम्बद्धकृतश्चैव व्यवहारो न सिद्ध्यति । प्रनष्टाधिशतं देयं नृपेण धनिने धनं ।। २५३.

A transaction made without connection is not valid; if the pledge is lost, the king must pay the creditor the value of the pledge.

विभावयेन्न चेल्लिङ्गैस्तत्समं दातुमर्हति । देयञ्चौरहृतं द्रव्यं राज्ञा जनपदाय तु ।। २५३.

If he cannot determine it by signs, he should give an equivalent; property stolen by thieves should be given by the king to the people of the country.

अशीतिभागो वृद्धिः स्यान्मासि मासि सबन्धके । वर्णक्रमाच्छतं द्वित्रिचतुष्पञ्चकमन्यथा ।। २५३.

The interest is one-eightieth per month with a guarantor; otherwise, according to caste order, it is one, two, three, four, or five per hundred.

सप्ततिस्तु पशुस्त्रीणां रसस्याष्टगुणा परा । वस्त्रधान्यहिरण्यानां चतुस्त्रिद्विगुणा तथा ।। २५३.

For cattle, it is seventy; for women, the highest is eight times; for liquids, four, three, or twice as much for cloth, grain, and gold.

ग्रामान्तरात्तु दशकं सामुद्रादपि विंशतिं । दद्यर्वा स्वकृतां वृद्धिं सर्वे सर्वासु जातिषु ।। २५३.

For another village, ten; for overseas, even twenty; all should pay the interest they have agreed upon in all cases and for all types.

प्रपन्नं साधयन्नर्थं न वाच्यो नृपतिर्भवेत् । साध्यमानो नृपं गच्छेद्दण्ड्यो दाप्यश्च तद्धनं ।। २५३.

A king who enforces a claim is not to be blamed; but one who is compelled to enforce it against the king is punishable and must pay that money.

अग्निरुवाच गृहीतार्थः क्रमाद्दाप्यो धनिनामधमर्णिकः । दत्वा तु ब्राह्मणायादौ नृपतेस्तदनन्तरम् ।। २५४.

Agni said: The debtor who has received the money must pay it back to the lender in order; but if he first gives it to a Brahmin, then to the king after that.

राज्ञाधमर्णिको दाप्यः साधिताद्दशकं स्मृतम् । पञ्चकन्तु शतं दाप्यः प्राप्तार्थो ह्युत्तमर्णिकः ।। २५४.

A debtor who is compelled by the king must pay ten percent of what is recovered; but if the amount is fully obtained, the best debtor must pay five percent per hundred.