Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 6
Chapter 154: विवाहः
Vivāha — Marriage
पञ्चस्वापत्सु नारीणां पतिरन्यो विधीयते मृते तु देवरे देयात् तदभावे यथेच्छया
pañcasvāpatsu nārīṇāṃ patiranyo vidhīyate mṛte tu devare deyāt tadabhāve yathecchayā
En cinco clases de calamidad, a la mujer se le permite tomar otro esposo. Si el marido ha muerto, debe ser dada en matrimonio al hermano menor del difunto; si no está disponible, entonces (puede ser dada) conforme a su propia elección.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dharma sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Family-law guidance on remarriage permissions in calamity and the customary levirate option (devara) after a husband’s death, with fallback to the woman’s choice if no devara is available.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Apad-dharma for Stri: Panca-apat and Niyoga/Devara-vivaha option","lookup_keywords":["panca-apat","stri-dharma","punarvivaha","devara-vivaha","niyoga"],"quick_summary":"In specified calamities a woman may accept another husband; after the husband’s death, marriage to the younger brother is prescribed, otherwise remarriage may proceed by her choice."}
Concept: Apad-dharma and social continuity: regulated exceptions to marital exclusivity under calamity, balancing lineage-protection with the woman’s agency when prescribed kin is absent.
Application: Use as a normative rule-set for adjudicating remarriage/guardianship decisions in crisis situations while minimizing social harm.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Stri-dharma (Family law, marriage, and social conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dharma-assembly scene where elders discuss a widow’s remarriage options: the deceased husband’s younger brother stands respectfully; the woman is shown veiled yet dignified, indicating choice if no devara is present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat rich colors, dharma-sabha with brahmin elders seated, widow in traditional attire, devara standing with folded hands, palm-leaf manuscripts, calm ethical atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on ornaments and throne-like seats of elders, central widow figure with halo-like arch motif, devara at side, ceremonial marriage tokens subtly shown","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional tableau of dharma adjudication, labeled gestures (invitation, consent), subdued palette, emphasis on social procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly council with fine textiles, widow and devara depicted with nuanced expressions, manuscript margins, architectural interior with jali screens"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pañcasvāpatsu → pañcasu + āpatsu; patiranyo → patiḥ + anyaḥ; tadabhāve → tad-abhāve; yathecchayā → yathā-icchayā
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vivaha-bheda and samskara sections (same khanda context); Agni Purana: Stri-dharma/apad-dharma discussions (adjacent verses)
FAQs
It conveys dharma-shastra guidance on permissible remarriage/guardianship for women during specified calamities, including the rule of offering a widow to the devara (husband’s younger brother) and, failing that, allowing her choice.
Alongside ritual, theology, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves normative social-legal instructions (dharma), here addressing marriage continuity and family structure during crisis—showing its wide-ranging, compendious scope.
By prescribing an orderly, dharma-based resolution in crisis (rather than social disorder), it frames remarriage as a regulated act aimed at protecting lineage, social stability, and personal welfare, thereby aligning conduct with dharmic merit.