Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 36
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
विभागनिह्नवे ज्ञातिबन्धुसाक्ष्यभिलेखितैः विभागभावना ज्ञेया गृहक्षेत्रैश् च यौतिकैः
vibhāganihnave jñātibandhusākṣyabhilekhitaiḥ vibhāgabhāvanā jñeyā gṛhakṣetraiś ca yautikaiḥ
إذا أُنكرَت القسمة أو أُخفيت، فينبغي التعرّف إلى حقيقة القسمة ونيّتها بواسطة: (i) شهادة الأقارب وذوي الرحم، (ii) السجلات والوثائق المكتوبة، وكذلك (iii) بالنظر في البيت والحقول وما يُحاز منفردًا من الأملاك والأعيان الشخصية.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Legal procedure for proving partition (vibhāga) when denied: rely on kin testimony, documents, and evidence from separately held property; used in adjudicating inheritance and property division suits.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Proof of partition when concealed (vibhāga-nihṇava): witnesses, documents, separate holdings","lookup_keywords":["vibhāga","nihṇava","sākṣya","abhilekha","gṛha kṣetra"],"quick_summary":"If partition is denied, ascertain intent and fact through relatives’ testimony, written records, and circumstantial evidence like separately held houses/fields and individual assets. This outlines evidentiary standards for property litigation."}
Concept: Vyavahāra depends on pramāṇa (means of proof): testimony, documents, and inference from possession.
Application: Courtroom method: collect witness statements, authenticate records, and inspect possession patterns to decide partition disputes.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Daya-bhaga / Property Division and Legal Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A legal inquiry into partition: relatives testify, clerks present written deeds, and officials inspect separate houses and fields to infer prior division.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sabhā with witnesses pointing toward property map, palm-leaf documents held by scribes, inspectors in the background near fields, narrative clarity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, formal court with gold accents on seals and document cases, property tokens (house/field miniatures) displayed, authoritative judge centered.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, procedural illustration: three evidences shown—witnesses, documents, separate holdings—clean composition, fine lines, instructional labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed depiction of record verification and land inspection, surveyors with measuring cords, scribes with registers, realistic architecture and landscape."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गृहक्षेत्रैश् च → गृह-क्षेत्रैः च; ज्ञातिबन्धुसाक्ष्यभिलेखितैः treated as a dvandva aggregate in instrumental plural.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (vyavahāra: evidence, documents, partition disputes)
FAQs
It teaches vyavahāra-vidyā (legal procedure): how to establish a disputed family partition using witnesses (especially relatives), written documents, and proof from separately possessed house/land and personal holdings.
Beyond rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves practical jurisprudence—rules of proof, documentation, and property division—showing its coverage of governance and civil law alongside spiritual topics.
By insisting on truthful proof and orderly partition, it supports dharma in family and society, reducing conflict and injustice—actions seen as upholding righteous conduct (dharma) with beneficial karmic outcomes.