Agni Purana

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.

अराजदैविकन्नष्टं भाण्डं दाप्यस्तु वाहकः । प्रस्थानविघ्नकृच्चैव चप्रदाप्यो द्विगुणां भृतिम् ।। २५८.

If goods are lost not by royal or divine act, the carrier must pay; and if he causes delay in departure, he must pay double wages.

प्रकान्ते सप्तमं भागं चतुर्थं पथि संत्यजन् । भृतिमर्द्धपथे सर्व्वां प्रदाप्यस्त्याजकोपि च ।। २५८.

At the journey’s end, a seventh part is due; if abandoned on the road, a fourth; if abandoned halfway, half the wages must be paid, even by one who abandons.

ग्लहे शतिकवृद्धेस्तु सभिकः पञ्चकं शतं । गृह्णीयाद्‌धूर्त्तकितवादितराद्दशकं शतं ।। २५८.

In gambling, the supervisor takes five out of a hundred from the winner’s gain; from a cheat, gambler, or other, he takes ten out of a hundred.

स सम्यक्‌पालितो दद्याद्रज्ञे भागं यथाकृतं । जितमुद्‌ग्राहयेज्जेत्रे दद्यात्सत्यं वचः क्षमी ।। २५८.

He who is properly protected should give the king his due share as agreed; the winner must announce the gain, and the truthful, patient one should speak honestly.

प्रप्ते नृपतिना भागो प्रसिद्धे धूर्त्तमण्डले । जितं सशभिके स्थाने दापयेदन्यथा न तु ।। २५८.

When the king’s share is received in a known gambling circle, the winner must pay it at the place with the supervisor; otherwise, he need not pay.

द्रष्टारो व्यवहाराणां साक्षिणश्च त एव हि । राज्ञा सचिह्ना निर्वास्याः कूटाक्षोपधिदेविनः ।। २५८.

Those who witness transactions are also the witnesses; the king must expel those who cheat with false dice, deception, or false oaths, marking them out.

द्यूतमेकमुखं कार्य्यं तस्करज्ञानकारणात् । एष एव विधिर्ज्ञेयः प्राणिद्यूते समाह्वये ।। २५८.

Gambling should be conducted openly, to prevent thieves and deceit; this same rule applies to animal gambling and contests.

अग्निरुवाच सत्यासत्यान्यथा स्तोत्रैर्न्यूनाङ्गेन्द्रियरोगिणां । क्षेपं करोति चेद्दण्ड्यः पणानर्द्धत्रयोदश ।। २५८.

Agni said: If someone insults those with defective limbs or senses, whether truthfully or falsely, through hymns, he shall be fined twelve and a half paṇas.

अभिगन्तास्मि भगिनीम्मातरं वा तवेति च । शपन्तं दापयेद्राजा पञ्चविशतिकं दमं ।। २५८.

If someone swears, 'I will approach your sister or mother,' the king shall fine him twenty-five coins.

अर्द्धोऽधमेषु द्विगुणः परस्त्रीषूत्तमेषु च । दण्डप्रणयनं क्काय्य वर्णजात्युत्तराधरैः ।। २५८.

For lower castes, the fine is half; for higher castes, double; for the highest, it is twice as much—the penalty is set according to caste and rank.