Agni Purana

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.

हीनजातिं परिक्षीणमृणार्थं कर्म्म कारयेत् । ब्राह्मणस्तु परिक्षीणः शनैर्द्दाप्यो यथोदयम् ।। २५४.

A person of lower caste who is impoverished should be made to work for the debt; but a Brahmin who is impoverished should pay gradually as he is able.

दीयमानं न गृह्णाति प्रयुक्तं स्वकन्धनम् । मध्यस्थस्थापितं तत्स्याद्वर्द्धते न ततः परं ।। २५४.

If the debtor does not accept the payment when offered, and it is deposited with a mediator, it remains there and does not accrue further interest.

ऋक्थग्राह ऋणं दाप्यो योपिद्‌ग्राहस्तथैव च । पुत्रोऽनन्याश्रितद्रव्यः पुत्रहीनस्य ऋक्थिनः ।। २५४.

One who has received inheritance must pay the debt, and so also the one who has taken possession; the son who possesses property must pay the debt of a father who has no other son.

न योषित् पतिपुत्राभ्यां न पुत्रेण कृतं पिता । दद्यादृते कुटुम्बार्थान्न पतिः स्त्रीकृतं तथा ।। २५४.

A wife is not liable for debts incurred by her husband or son, nor is a father liable for debts incurred by his son; except for household purposes, a husband is not liable for debts incurred by his wife.

गोपशौण्डिकशैलूषरजकव्याधयोषितां । ऋणं दद्यात्पतिस्त्वासां यस्माद्‌वृत्तिस्तदाश्रया ।। २५४.

The husband should pay the debts of women who are cowherds, strongmen, performers, washerwomen, hunters, or prostitutes, because their livelihood depends on him.

प्रतिपन्नं स्त्रिया देयं पत्या वा सह यत् कृतं । स्वयं कृतं वा यदृणं नान्यस्त्री दातुमर्हति ।। २५४.

Any debt incurred by a woman, either jointly with her husband or alone, must be paid by her or her husband; no other woman is obliged to pay such a debt.

पितरि प्रोषिते प्रेते व्यसनाभिप्लुतेऽथ वा । पुत्रपौत्रैर्ऋणं देयं निह्नवे साक्षिभावितम् ।। २५४.

If the father is absent, deceased, or afflicted by misfortune, the debt should be paid by his sons or grandsons, provided it is substantiated by witnesses.

सुराकामद्यूतकृतन्दण्डशुल्कावशिष्टकम् । वृथा दानं तथैवेहपु त्रो दद्यान्न पैतृकम् ।। २५४.

Debts arising from drinking, gambling, fines, taxes, or what remains after such expenses, as well as gifts made without purpose, should not be paid by the sons.

भ्रातॄणामथ दम्पत्योः पितुः पुत्रस्य चैव हि । प्रतिभाव्यमृणं ग्राह्यमविभक्तेन च स्मृतम् ।। २५४.

Among brothers, spouses, fathers, and sons, a debt that is guaranteed is to be accepted by those who are undivided, as is remembered in tradition.

दर्शने प्रत्यये दाने प्रव्भिव्यं विधीयते । आधौ तु वितथे दाप्या वितथस्य सुता अपि ।। २५४.

In cases of appearance, guarantee, or payment, responsibility is prescribed; but if a pledge is false, even the sons of the one who made the false pledge must pay.