Agni Purana

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.

यदा तु द्विगुणीभूतमृणमाधौ तदा खलु । मोच्यश्चाधिस्तदुत्पाद्य प्रविष्टे द्विगुणे धणे ।। २५४.

When the debt has doubled in the pledge, the pledge must be released; after producing the doubled amount, the pledge is freed.

व्यसनस्थमनाख्याय हस्तेऽन्यस्य यदर्पयेत् । द्रव्यं तदौपनिधिकं प्रतिदेयं तथैव तत् ।। २५४.

If someone in distress, without declaring it, places property in another's hand, that property is considered a deposit and must be returned in the same manner.

न दाप्योऽपहृतं तत्तु राजदैवकतस्करैः । प्रेपश्चेन्मार्गिते दत्ते दाप्यो दण्डश्च तत्समम् ।। २५४.

One is not liable to return property that has been taken away by the king, gods, or thieves; but if it is later found and given back after being sought, the person must restore it and pay an equivalent fine.

आजीवन् स्वेच्छया दण्ड्यो दाप्यस्तच्चापि सोदयं । याचितावाहितन्यासे निक्षेपेष्वप्ययं विधिः ।।२५४.

If someone has taken property for their own use, they must be punished for life and must return it with interest; this rule also applies to deposits that were entrusted or pledged, whether requested or not.

अग्निरुवाच तपस्विनो दानशीलाः कुलीनाः सत्यवादिनः । धर्म्मप्रधाना ऋजवः पुत्रवविते दवीविवुतीः ।। २५५.

Agni said: Ascetics, those devoted to charity, those of noble lineage, speakers of truth, those who prioritize righteousness, the upright, and those who have sons and grandsons—

पञ्चयज्ञक्रियायुक्ताः साक्षइणः पञ्च वा त्रयः । यथाजाति यथावर्ण सर्व्वे सर्व्वेषु वा स्मृताः ।। २५५.

Those engaged in the five sacrifices, those who are witnesses—five, or three, according to their birth and class—all are considered valid in all matters.

स्त्रीवृद्धबालकितवमत्तोन्मत्ताभिशस्तकाः । रङ्गावतारिपाषण्डिकूटकृद्विकलेन्द्रियाः ।। २५५.

Women, the elderly, children, gamblers, intoxicated or insane persons, the accused, actors, heretics, forgers, and those with impaired senses—

पतिताप्तान्नसम्बन्धिसहायरिपुतस्कराः । असाक्षिणः सर्व्वसाक्षई चौर्य्यपारुष्यसाहसे ।। २५५.

The fallen, those who eat with outcasts, associates, companions, enemies, thieves, those without witnesses, and all witnesses in cases of theft, abuse, or violence—

उभयानुमतः साक्षई भवत्येकोपि धर्म्मवित । अब्रुवन् हिनरः साक्षअयमृणं सदशबन्धकम् ।। २५५.

A witness is valid if both parties agree, even if there is only one who knows righteousness; if a man does not speak as a witness, he is always bound by the debt of silence.

राज्ञा सर्वं प्रदाप्यः स्यात् षट्‌चत्वारिंशकेऽहनि । न ददाति हि यः साक्षअयं जानन्नपि नराधमः ।। २५५.

He must pay everything to the king on the forty-sixth day; the wicked man who, though knowing, does not give witness—