Agni Purana

स्वामिने योऽनिवेद्यैव क्षेत्रे सेतुं प्रकल्पयेत् । उत्पन्ने स्वामिनो भोगस्तदभावे महीपतेः ।। २५८.

Whoever constructs a dam in a field without informing the owner, the enjoyment belongs to the owner if present; if absent, it belongs to the king.

फालाहतमपि क्षेत्रं यो न कुर्यान्न कारयेत् । स प्रदाप्योऽकृष्टफलं क्षेत्रमन्येन कारयेत् ।। २५८.

If one does not cultivate or have cultivated a field that has been plowed, he must compensate with uncultivated produce and have the field cultivated by another.

मासानष्टौ तु महिषो सस्यघातम्थ कारिणी । दण्डनाया तदर्द्धन्तु गौस्तदर्द्धनजाविकं ।। २५८.

If a buffalo causes destruction of crops, the penalty is eight months; for a cow, half of that; for a sheep or goat, half of the cow’s penalty.

भक्षयित्वोपविष्टानां यथोक्ताद् द्विगुणो दमः । सममेषां विवितेपि खरेष्ट्रं महिषीसमम् ।। २५८.

For animals that have eaten and are sitting, the prescribed penalty is doubled; for those in a separate enclosure, the penalty for a buffalo is equal to that for a cow.

यावत् सस्यं विनष्टन्तु तावत् क्षेत्री फलं लभेत् । पालस्ताड्योऽथ गोस्वामी पूर्वोक्तं दण्डमर्हति ।। २५८.

As much crop as is destroyed, so much produce the field owner shall receive; the herdsman is to be punished, and the cow’s owner deserves the previously stated penalty.

पथि ग्रामविवीतन्ते क्षेत्रे दोषो न विद्यते । अकामतः कामचारे चौरवद्दण्डमर्हति ।। २५८.

There is no fault for trespass on a field at the edge of a village or on a path; but if done intentionally, the penalty is as for theft.

महोक्षोत्सृष्टपशवः सूतिकागन्तुका च गौः । पालो येषान्तु ते मोच्या दैवराजपरिप्लुताः ।। २५८.

Cattle released by a large ox, cows in labor, or those newly arrived, their herdsmen are to be freed, as they are afflicted by fate or the king.

यथार्पितान् पशून् गोपः सायं प्रत्यर्पयेत्तथा । प्रमादमृतनष्टांश्च प्रदाप्यः कृतवेतनः ।। २५८.

The cowherd should return the entrusted cattle in the evening as they were given; for those lost by negligence or death, he must compensate, having received his wages.

पालदोषविनाशे तु पाले दण्डो विधीयते । अर्द्धत्रयोदशपणः स्वामिनो द्रव्यमेव च ।। २५८.

When loss arises from the herdsman’s fault, a penalty is imposed on him: thirteen and a half paṇas, and the property is to be given to the owner.

ग्रामेच्छया गोप्रचारो भूमिराजवशेन वा । द्विजस्तृणैधः पुष्पाणि सर्वतः स्ववदाहरेत् ।। २५८.

If cattle graze by the village’s wish or by the king’s order, a twice-born may take grass, firewood, and flowers everywhere as if they were his own.

धनुःशतं परीणाहो ग्रामक्षेत्रान्तरं भवेत् । द्वे शने खर्वटस्य स्यान्नगरस्य चतुःशतम् ।। २५८.

The distance between village and field should be one hundred bows; for a hamlet, it is two bows, and for a city, four hundred.

स्वं लभेतान्यविक्रीतं क्रेतुर्द्दोषोऽप्रकाशिते । हीनाद्रहो हीनमूल्ये वेलाहीने च तस्करः ।। २५८.

One may reclaim his own property if not sold to another; the buyer is at fault if he does not disclose it; one who buys at a reduced price, or at an improper time, or without proper boundary, is a thief.

नष्टा पहृतमासाद्य हर्त्तारं ग्राहयेन्नरम् । देशकालातिपत्तौ वा गृहीत्वा स्वयमर्पयेत् ।। २५८.

If lost or stolen property is found, the thief should be brought to the authorities; if the time and place are exceeded, one should take it and return it himself.

विक्रेतुर्द्दर्शनाच्छुद्धिः स्वामी द्रव्यं नृपो दमम् । क्रेता मूल्यं समाप्नोति तस्माद्यस्तव विक्रयी ।। २५८.

By the presentation of the goods, the seller is purified; the owner receives the property, the king the fine; the buyer obtains the price—thus, whoever sells is bound by this.

आगमेनोपभोगेन नष्टं भाव्यमतोऽन्यथा । पञ्चबन्धो दमस्तस्य राज्ञे तेनाप्यभाविते ।। २५८.

If something is lost through use or by natural means, it must be accounted for as such; if otherwise, a fivefold bond is imposed as a fine by the king, even if the loss is not proven.

हृतं प्रनष्टं यो द्रव्यं परहस्तदवाप्नुयात् । अनिवेद्य नृपे दण्ड्यः स तु षण्णवतिं पणान् ।। २५८.

Whoever, having found stolen or lost property in another's possession, does not report it to the king, shall be fined ninety-six paṇas.

शौलिककैः स्थानपालैर्वा नष्टापहृतमाहृतं । अर्व्वाक् संवत्सरात् स्वामी लभते परतो नृपः ।। २५८.

If lost or stolen property is recovered by the efforts of guards or watchmen, the owner may reclaim it within a year; afterwards, the king takes possession.

पणानेकशफे दद्याच्चतुरः पञ्च मानुषे । महिषोष्ट्रगवां द्वौ द्वौ पादं पादमजाविके ।। २५८.

For a one-hoofed animal, four paṇas should be given; for a human, five; for buffalo, camel, or cow, two each; for sheep and goats, a quarter each.

स्वकुटुम्‌बाविरोधेन देयं दारसुतादृते । नान्वये सति सर्वस्वं देयं यच्चान्यसंश्रुतम् ।। २५८.

Except for wife and children, property should be given without opposition from one's own family; if there are heirs, the entire estate should not be given away, nor what has been promised to another.

प्रतिग्रहः प्रकाशः स्यात् स्थावरस्य विशेषतः । देयं प्रतिश्रुतञ्चैव दत्वा नापहरेत् पुनः ।। २५८.

Acceptance must be made openly, especially for immovable property; what has been promised should be given, and once given, it should not be taken back.

दशैकपञ्चसप्ताहमासत्र्यहार्द्धमासिकं । वीजायोवाह्यरत्नस्त्रीदोह्यपुंसां प्रतीक्षणम् ।। २५८.

Ten, one, five, seven days, a month, three days, half a month—these are the waiting periods for seeds, draft animals, gems, women, and men.

अग्नौ सुवर्णमक्षीणं द्विपलं रजते शते । अष्टौ त्रपुणि सीसे च ताम्रे पञ्चदशायसि ।। २५८.

For gold, the loss is two palas per hundred; for silver, one hundred; for tin and lead, eight; for copper, fifteen; for iron, the same.

शते दशपलावृद्धिरौर्णे कार्पासिके तथा । मध्ये पञ्चपला ज्ञेया सूक्ष्मे तु त्रिपला मता ।। २५८.

For woolen and cotton goods, the increase is ten palas per hundred; for medium quality, five palas are to be known; for fine, three palas are considered.

कार्म्मिके रोमबद्धे च त्रिंशद्भागः क्षयो मतः । न क्षयो न च वृद्धिस्तु कौशेये वल्कलेषु च ।। २५८.

For leather or hair-bound goods, a thirtieth part is considered the loss; for silk and bark cloth, there is neither loss nor increase.

देशं कालञ्च भोगञ्च ज्ञात्वा नष्टे बलाबलम् । द्रव्याणआं कुशला ब्रुयुर्यद्दाप्यमसंशयम् ।। २५८.

Knowing the place, time, and use, and the strength or weakness of the loss, experts should declare without doubt what compensation is due for the goods.

बलाद्दासीकृतश्चौरैर्विक्रीतश्चापि मुच्यते । स्वामिप्राणपदो भक्तत्यागात्तन्निष्क्रयादपि ।। २५८.

One who has been enslaved by force by thieves or sold is to be released; the owner regains him by devotion, renunciation of food, or by paying the price.

प्रव्रज्यावसितो राज्ञा दास आमरणान्तिकः । वर्णानामानुलोभ्यंन दास्यं न प्रतिलोमतः ।। २५८.

A slave who has taken up ascetic life remains so until death by the king's order; slavery is not to be imposed contrary to caste, nor in the reverse order.

कृतशिल्पोपि निवसेत् कृतकालं गुरोर्गृहे । अन्तेवासी गुरुप्राप्तभोजनस्तत्‌फलप्रदः ।। २५८.

Even after completing his studies, one should reside in the teacher's house for the appointed time; the student receives food from the teacher and gives the appropriate reward.

राजा कृत्वा पुरे स्थानं ब्राह्मणन्न्यस्य तत्र तु । त्रैविद्यं वृत्तिमद्‌ब्रूयात् स्वधर्म्मः पाल्यतामिति ।। २५८.

The king, having established a place in the city, should appoint a learned Brahmin there, who is versed in the three Vedas and has means of livelihood, and instruct him to uphold his own dharma.