Agni Purana

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.

निजधर्म्माविरोधेन यस्तु सामयिको भवेत् । सोपि यत्नेन संरक्ष्यो धर्मो राजकृतश्च यः ।। २५८.

One who, without violating his own dharma, abides by the agreement, and also the dharma established by the king, must be diligently protected.

गणद्रव्यं हरेद्यस्तु संविदं लङ्घयेच्च यः । सर्वस्वहरणं कृत्वा तं राष्ट्रद्विप्रवासयेत् ।। २५८.

Whoever misappropriates communal property or violates an agreement, the king shall confiscate all his possessions and banish him from the kingdom.

कर्त्तव्यं वचनं सर्वैः समूहहितवादिभिः । यस्तत्र विपरीतः स्यात्स दाप्यः प्रथमं दम्म ।। २५८.

All those who speak for the good of the assembly must follow its decision; whoever acts contrary in that matter shall first be fined.

समूहकार्य्यप्रहितो यल्लभेत्तत्तदर्पयेत् । एकादशगुणं दाप्यो यद्यसौ नार्पयेत् स्वयम् ।। २५८.

Whatever is obtained by one appointed for the assembly’s work, that must be presented; if he does not present it himself, he shall pay eleven times the amount.

वेदज्ञाः शुचयोऽलुब्धा भवेयुः कार्यचिन्तकाः । कर्त्तव्यं वचनं तेषा समूहहितवादिनां ।। २५८.

Those who are learned in the Vedas, pure, and free from greed should deliberate on the affairs; the words of such assembly-minded speakers must be followed.

श्रेणिनैगमपाखण्डिगणानामप्ययं विधिः । भेदञ्चैषां नृपो रक्षएत् पूर्ववृत्तिञ्च पालयेत् ।। २५८.

This rule applies also to guilds, merchants, heretics, and groups; the king should protect their distinctions and uphold their established customs.

गृहीतवेतनः कर्म्म त्यजन् द्विगुणमावहेत् । अगृहीते समं दाप्यो भृत्यै रक्ष्य उपस्करः ।। २५८.

If someone who has received wages abandons his work, he must pay double; if he has not received wages, he must pay an equal amount, and the employer must safeguard the tools.

दाप्यस्तु दशमं भागं बाणिज्यपशुसस्यतः । अनिश्चित्य भृतिं यस्तु कारयेत्स महीक्षइता ।। २५८.

A tenth part of profit from trade, cattle, or grain must be paid; but if someone employs a worker without fixing wages, the king shall decide the due amount.

देशं कालञ्च योऽतीयात् कर्म्म कुर्य्याच्च योऽन्यथा । तत्र तु स्वामिनश्छन्दोऽधिकं देयं कृतेऽधिके ।। २५८.

Whoever leaves the place or time assigned, or does the work differently, must pay extra to the master, and if more is done, more should be given.

यो यावत् कुरुते कर्म्म तावत्तस्य तु वेतनम् । उभयोरप्यसाध्यञ्चेत् साध्ये कुर्य्याद्यथाश्रुतम् ।। २५८.

For whatever work a person does, he is entitled to wages for that much; if neither side fulfills the agreement, the matter should be settled as heard.