Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 19
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
उत्सृष्टो गृह्यते यस्तु सोपविद्धो भवेत् सुतः पिण्डदो ऽंशहरश् चैषां पूर्वाभावे परः परः
utsṛṣṭo gṛhyate yastu sopaviddho bhavet sutaḥ piṇḍado 'ṃśaharaś caiṣāṃ pūrvābhāve paraḥ paraḥ
A son who has been abandoned and then taken into a family is called an apaviddha (received) son. He is entitled to offer the funeral rice-ball (piṇḍa) and also to receive a share of inheritance; and among these sons, in the absence of the prior one, the next in order becomes entitled, successively.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Determining rights of an abandoned-but-accepted son (apaviddha) to perform śrāddha offerings and inherit, and establishing priority order among son-types.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Apaviddha (accepted/received) son and succession priority","lookup_keywords":["apaviddha","utsṛṣṭa","piṇḍa-dāna","aṃśa-hara","priority order"],"quick_summary":"Defines the apaviddha son (abandoned then taken) and affirms his eligibility for piṇḍa offerings and inheritance; also states that entitlement proceeds in order when a prior category is absent."}
Concept: Dharma integrates compassion and social order by granting ritual and property rights to an accepted abandoned child, within a ranked system of entitlement.
Application: In disputes, verify acceptance into the household and then apply the stated order-of-preference for piṇḍa and inheritance claims.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Putra-vidhi / Dattaka & Putra-bheda)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A child left outside a home is compassionately received by a householder; later the same child performs piṇḍa offerings at an ancestor rite and is seated among heirs during division of property.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, emotive scene of a found child at the threshold, elders welcoming; second register shows śrāddha with rice-balls and water libations, subdued sacred palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, auspicious household adoption moment with gold accents; separate vignette of śrāddha ritual with ritual vessels, banana leaves, and priestly presence.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear two-step instructional depiction: (1) acceptance into family, (2) piṇḍa-dāna and inheritance seating; fine outlines and readable gestures.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative progression: courtyard discovery and later a formal inheritance assembly; intricate carpets, attendants, and ritual paraphernalia."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यस्तु → यः + तु; सोपविद्धो → स + उपविद्धः; पिण्डदो ऽंशहरश् → पिण्डदः + अंशहरः; चैषां → च + एषाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (rules on piṇḍa and aṃśa for son-types)
FAQs
It defines the apaviddha (accepted-after-abandonment) son and assigns him two key legal-ritual competencies: offering piṇḍa (śrāddha duty) and taking a share of inheritance, with succession passing to the next eligible category if the prior is unavailable.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves Dharmaśāstra-style civil norms—adoption/son-classifications, inheritance entitlement, and śrāddha authority—showing its coverage of practical jurisprudence and household governance.
By authorizing who may perform piṇḍa and continue the lineage rites, the verse safeguards ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tṛpti) and the continuity of obligatory rites, which are treated as merit-bearing duties that stabilize family dharma.