Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 5
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
पितृद्रव्याविनाशेन यदन्यत् स्वयमर्जयेत् मैत्रमौद्वाहिकञ्चैव दायादानान्न तद्भवेत्
pitṛdravyāvināśena yadanyat svayamarjayet maitramaudvāhikañcaiva dāyādānānna tadbhavet
Whatever else a person acquires by his own effort—without diminishing the father’s property—as well as what is obtained through friendship (a gift from a friend) and what is received in connection with marriage, does not become inheritable property to be divided among heirs.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s dharma-legal sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Classifying self-acquired property and certain receipts (friend-gifts, marriage-related gains) as non-partible/non-inheritable vis-à-vis paternal estate, aiding dispute resolution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Non-partible acquisitions: self-earned, friend-gifts, and marriage-related gains","lookup_keywords":["self-acquired property","non-inheritable","friend gift","marriage gifts","partition law"],"quick_summary":"Property gained by one’s own effort without diminishing paternal assets, as well as gifts from friends and certain marriage-related receipts, are treated as not forming part of divisible ancestral inheritance."}
Concept: Distinction between ancestral estate (subject to partition) and personal acquisitions (protected from compulsory division).
Application: During partition, segregate self-acquired assets and specified gifts/nuptial gains from the divisible pool; document provenance to prevent litigation.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra: inheritance and property law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A partition scene where a scribe separates two ledgers: ancestral property on one side, self-earned and gifted items on the other; a friend presents a gift; marriage procession symbols indicate nuptial gains.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; stylized scribe with palm-leaf manuscripts dividing categories, friend offering a wrapped gift, wedding symbols (garlands, lamps) in background, clear separation of piles.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; gold-embellished gift box and wedding ornaments, central ledger with ornate border, figures in frontal arrangement emphasizing classification.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; instructional composition with labeled-like visual grouping—ancestral chest vs personal chest—fine linework, subdued palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed courtly accounting with two carpets of goods, friend presenting nazr-like gift, wedding entourage hinted in a side vignette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितृद्रव्याविनाशेन → पितृ-द्रव्य-अविनाशेन (compound chain; sense ‘without destroying ancestral property’); यदन्यत् → यत् + अन्यत्; स्वयमर्जयेत् → स्वयम् + अर्जयेत्; मैत्रमौद्वाहिकम् → मैत्रम् + औद्वाहिकम्; औद्वाहिकञ्चैव → औद्वाहिकम् + च + एव; दायादानान्न → दायादानात् + न (final -t before n).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (definitions of dāya vs svārjita)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of dharma-legal classification: self-acquired wealth earned without reducing ancestral property, gifts from friends, and marriage-related acquisitions are treated as non-divisible (not subject to partition among heirs).
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical jurisprudence (vyavahāra) on inheritance and property—showing it functions as a compendium of governance and civil law alongside theology.
By preventing unjust partition and protecting rightful ownership, it upholds dharma in family life; such fairness is treated as merit-bearing conduct that reduces conflict and supports social order.