Agni Purana

आर्य्याक्रोशातिक्रमकृद्‌भ्रातृजायाप्रहारदः सन्दिष्टस्याप्रदाता च समुद्रगृहभेदकः ।। २५८.

One who exceeds in abusing a noble, strikes a brother's wife, withholds what is ordered to be given, or breaks into a house by the sea—

सामन्तकुलिकादीनामपकारस्य कारकः । पञ्चाशत्पणिको दण्ड एषामिति विनिश्चयः ।। २५८.

One who harms local chiefs, artisans, and the like, the fixed penalty for these is fifty paṇas—this is the decision.

स्वच्छन्दविधवागामी विक्रुष्टे नाभिधावकः । पञ्चाशत्पणिको दण्ड एषामिति विनिश्चयः ।। २५८.

A man who approaches a widow at her own will, or does not come when loudly called, the fixed penalty for these is fifty paṇas—this is the decision.

शूद्रः प्रव्रजीतानाञ्च दैवे पैत्र्ये च भोजकः । अयुक्तं शपथं कुर्व्वन्नयोग्यो योग्यकर्मकृत् ।। २५८.

A Śūdra who eats the food of ascetics, or at sacrifices to gods or ancestors, or who swears a false oath, or performs an act unfit for him—

वृषक्षुद्रपशूनाञ्च पुंस्त्वस्य प्रतिघातकृत् । साधारणस्यापलापो दासीगर्भविनाशकृत् ।। २५८.

One who renders bulls or minor animals impotent, who denies common property, or who destroys a maidservant's pregnancy—

पितापुत्रस्वसृभ्रातृदम्पत्याचार्य्यशिष्यकाः । एषामपतितान्योन्यत्यागी च शतदण्डभाक् ।। २५८.

A father, son, sister, brother, husband and wife, teacher and student—if any of these abandon each other without cause, they incur a fine of one hundred.

वसानस्त्रीन् पणान् दण्ड्यो नेजकस्तु परांशुकम् । विक्रयावक्रयाधानयाचितेषु पणान् दश ।। २५८.

One who wears another's garment is fined three paṇas; but if he does not return borrowed clothing, or in cases of sale, purchase, deposit, or loan, the fine is ten paṇas.

तुलाशासनमानानं कूटकृन्नाणकस्य च । एभिश्च व्यवहर्त्ता यः स दाप्यो दण्डमुत्तमम् ।। २५८.

Whoever tampers with weights, measures, or coins, or conducts business with such, must pay the highest penalty.

अकूटं कूटकं ब्रते कूटं यश्चाप्यकूटकम् । स नाणकपरीक्षी तु दाप्यः प्रथमसाहसम् ।। २५८.

One who claims genuine as counterfeit or counterfeit as genuine, or tests coins falsely, must pay the first-level fine for assault.

भिषङ्‌मिथ्याचरन् दाप्यस्तिर्य्यक्षु प्रथमं दमम् । मानुषे मध्यमं राजमानुषेषूत्तमन्तथा ।। २५८.

A physician who acts wrongly must pay the lowest fine for animals, the middle fine for humans, and the highest for royal persons.

अबध्यं यश्च बध्नाति बध्यं यश्च प्रमुञ्चति । अप्राप्तव्यवहारञ्च स दाप्यो दममुत्तमम् ।। २५८.

Whoever binds one not to be bound, or releases one who is bound, or engages in unauthorized litigation, must pay the highest penalty.

मानेन तुलया वापि योंऽशमष्टमकं हरेत् । द्वाविंशतिपणान् दाप्यो वृद्धौ हानौ च कल्पितम् ।। २५८.

Whoever, by weight or measure, takes away an eighth part, must pay twenty-two paṇas, with the increase or decrease calculated accordingly.

भेषजस्नेहलवणस्नेगन्धधान्यगुड़ादिषु । पण्येषु प्रक्षिपन् हीनं पणान्दाप्यस्तु षोडश ।। २५८.

One who adulterates medicines, oils, salt, perfumes, grains, or other goods must pay a fine of sixteen paṇas.

सम्भूय कुर्व्वतामर्घं सबाधं कारुशिल्पिनां । अर्थस्य ह्रासं वृद्धिं वा सहस्रो दण्ड उच्यते ।। २५८.

If artisans or craftsmen collude to fix prices or restrict trade, causing loss or gain in value, the penalty is a thousand.

राजनि स्थाप्यते योऽर्थः प्रत्यहं तेन विक्रयः । क्रयो वा निस्रवस्तस्माद्वणिजां लाभकृत् स्मृतः ।। २५८.

Whatever price is set daily by the king, that is the rate for sale or purchase; profit made by merchants beyond this is considered unlawful.

स्वदेशपण्ये तु शतं वणिग् गृह्णीत पञ्चकं । दशकं पारदेश्ये तु यः सद्यः क्रयविक्रयी ।। २५८.

A merchant should take five out of a hundred for goods from his own country, and ten for foreign goods, when buying and selling immediately.

पण्यस्योपरि संस्थाप्य व्ययं पण्यसमुद्भवं । अर्थोंऽनुग्रहकृत् कार्य्यः क्रेतुर्विक्रेतुरेव च ।। २५८.

The cost arising from the goods should be added to the price, and a reasonable profit should be made for both the buyer and the seller.

गृहीतमूल्यं यः पण्यं क्रेतुर्नैव प्रयच्छति । सोदयन्तस्य दाप्योऽसौ दिग्लाभं वा दिगागते ।। २५८.

If someone, having received payment, does not deliver the goods to the buyer, he must pay with interest, or, if the buyer is from another region, the loss due to distance.

विक्रोतमपि विक्रेयं पूर्वे क्रेतर्य्यगृह्णति । हानिश्चेत् क्रेतृदोषेण क्रेतुरेव हि सा भवेत् ।। २५८.

Even if goods have been sold, they may be resold if the previous buyer has not taken possession; but if there is loss due to the fault of the buyer, that loss belongs to the buyer alone.

राजदैवोपघातेन पण्ये दोषमुपागते । हानिर्विक्रेतुरेवासौ याचितस्याप्रयच्छतः ।। २५८.

If goods are damaged by royal authority or by fate, the loss falls upon the seller, unless the goods were specifically ordered and not delivered.

अन्यहस्ते च विक्रीतं दुष्टं वा दुष्टवद्यदि । विक्रीनीते दमस्तत्र तन्मूल्यादद्विगुणो भवेत् ।। २५८.

If something sold to another is found to be defective or is treated as such, the seller must pay a penalty twice the value of the item.

क्षयं वृद्धिञ्च बणिजापण्यानामविजानता । क्रीत्वा नानुशयः कार्य्यः कुर्वन् षड्‌भागदण्डभाक् ।। २५८.

If someone buys goods from merchants without knowing their depreciation or appreciation, he should not be blamed; but if he acts knowingly, he is liable to a fine of one-sixth.

समवायेन वणिजां लाभार्थं कर्म कुर्वतां । लाभालाभौ यथा द्रव्यं यथा वा संविदा कृतौ ।। २५८.

When merchants act together for profit, gain and loss should be divided according to the capital invested or as agreed upon.

प्रतिपिद्धमनादिष्टं प्रमादाद्यच्च नाशितं । स तद्दद्याद् विप्लवाच्च रक्षइताद्दसमांशभाक् ।। २५८.

If something entrusted is lost without instruction due to negligence, the responsible person must pay for it; if lost by calamity, he is liable for one-tenth.

अर्थप्रक्षएपणाद्विंशं भागं शुल्कं नृपो हरेत् । व्यासिद्धं राजयोग्यञ्च विक्रीतं राजगामि तत् ।। २५८.

From the declared profit, the king shall take a twentieth part as tax; goods that are prohibited or suitable for the king, when sold, go to the king.

मित्थ्या वदन् परीमाणं शुल्कस्थानादपक्रमम् । दाप्यस्त्वष्टगुणं यश्च सव्याजक्रयविक्रयी ।। २५८.

One who gives false measurements, evades the place of tax, or buys and sells with deceit, must pay eight times the value as a penalty.

देशान्तरगते प्रेते द्रव्यं दायादबान्धवाः । ज्ञातयो वा हरेयुस्तदागतास्तैर्विना नृपः ।। २५९.

If someone dies in a foreign land, his property should be taken by heirs or relatives who are present; if none are present, the king shall take it.

जिह्मं त्यजेयुर्निर्लोभमशक्तोऽन्येन कारयेत् । अनेन विधिराख्यात ऋत्विक्कर्षककर्मिणां ।। २५९.

They should abandon crookedness without greed; if unable, another should do it. This rule is declared for priests, farmers, and workers.

ग्राहकैर्गृह्यते चौरो लोप्त्रेणाथ पदेन वा । पूर्वकर्मापराधी वा तथैवाशुद्धवासकः ।। २५८.

A thief is apprehended by the buyers, with a shovel or by his footprints, or if he is a repeat offender or wears unclean clothes.