Agni Purana

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.

दर्शनप्रतिभूर्यत्र मृतः प्रात्ययिकोऽपि वा । न तत्‌पुत्रा धनं दद्युर्दद्युर्दानाय ये स्थिताः ।। २५४.

Where a guarantee or surety is given, if the guarantor dies or is unable to fulfill, the sons are not required to pay; only those who remain for payment must do so.

बहवः स्युर्यदि स्वांशैर्दद्युः प्रतिभुवो धनम् । एकच्छायाश्रितेष्वेषु धनिकस्य यथारुचि ।। २५४.

If there are many guarantors, they should pay the money according to their share; but among those under one authority, payment is at the lender's discretion.

प्रतिभूर्दापितो यत्र प्रकाशं धनिने धनम् । द्विगुणं प्रतिदातव्यमृणिकैस्तस्य तद्भवेत् ।। २५४.

Where a guarantor has openly paid the lender, the debtor must repay him double; this is the rule for such cases.

स्वस्न्ततिस्त्रीपशव्यं धान्यं द्विगुणमेव च । वस्त्रं चतुर्गुणं प्रोक्तं रसश्चाष्टगुणस्तथा ।। २५४.

For one's own offspring, women, cattle, and grain, double repayment is prescribed; for cloth, fourfold; and for liquids, eightfold.

आधिः प्रणश्येत् द्विगुणे धने यदि न मोक्ष्यते । काले कालकृतं नश्येत् फलभोग्यो न नश्यति ।। २५४.

A pledge is forfeited if double the amount is not repaid; if lost due to time or circumstance, it is forfeited, but if enjoyed for its fruit, it is not lost.

गोप्याधिबोग्यो नावृद्धिः सोपकारेऽथ भाविते । नष्टो देयो विनष्टश्च दैवराजकृतादृते ।। २५४.

A pledge that is hidden or enjoyed does not accrue interest, even if there is benefit; if lost, it must be returned unless lost by act of God or king.

आधेः स्वीकरणात्सिद्धीरक्षमाणोप्यसारताम् । यातश्चेदन्य आधेयो धनभाग्‌ वा धनी भवेत् ।। २५४.

If, after accepting a pledge, the pledged item is destroyed or rendered useless, the lender becomes entitled to the share of wealth or the pledged money.

चरित्रं बन्धककृतं सवृद्धं दापयेद्वनं । सत्यह्कारकृतं द्रव्यं द्विगुणं प्रतिदापयेत् ।। २५४.

Property pledged for conduct or as security, with interest, must be repaid; property pledged for truthfulness must be repaid double.

उपस्थितस्य मोक्तव्य आधिर्दण्डोऽन्यथा भवेत् । प्रयोजके सति धनं कुलेन्यस्याधिमाप्नुयात् ।। २५४.

When the lender is present, the pledge must be released; otherwise, a penalty applies. If the purpose is fulfilled, the lender may reclaim the pledge.

तत्‌कालकृतमूल्यो वा तत्र तिष्ठेदवृद्धिकः । विना धारणकाद्वापि विक्रीणीते ससाक्षिकम् ।। २५४.

The value set at the time or the original price should remain without interest; or, if not held, it may be sold with witnesses.