Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 7
Chapter 253 — व्यवहारकथनम्
The Account of Legal Procedure
न योषित् पतिपुत्राभ्यां न पुत्रेण कृतं पिता दद्यादृते कुटुम्बार्थान्न पतिः स्त्रीकृतं तथा
na yoṣit patiputrābhyāṃ na putreṇa kṛtaṃ pitā dadyādṛte kuṭumbārthānna patiḥ strīkṛtaṃ tathā
La esposa no debe donar lo adquirido por el marido o por el hijo; asimismo, el padre no debe donar lo adquirido por el hijo—salvo por las necesidades del hogar. Del mismo modo, el marido no debe donar lo adquirido por la esposa.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma/legal instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Sets restraints on alienation (gifting/transfer) of family members’ acquisitions; allows exception for household necessity, preventing misuse of others’ earned property.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Limits on Disposition of Spouse’s/Son’s Property (Except Household Need)","lookup_keywords":["dana-niyama","stri-dhana","putra-arjita","kutūmbārtha","parigraha"],"quick_summary":"Neither spouse nor parent may give away property acquired by the other (or by the son), except when required for the household’s essential needs."}
Concept: Dharma balances generosity with justice: one’s impulse to give must not violate another’s rightful acquisition; necessity (kutūmbārtha) is the limited override.
Application: In disputes: determine provenance of property (husband-earned, wife-earned, son-earned) and invalidate unauthorized gifts except for demonstrable household exigency (food, rites, debt to protect family).
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: family property and legal restraints)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: artha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A household scene where a spouse attempts to donate an item earned by the other; an elder/judge points to a boundary line labeled ‘kutūmbārtha’ as the only exception.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, domestic interior with family members, a donation tray halted by a dharmic elder, clear gesture of prohibition, subdued colors and moral gravity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted jewelry/cloth representing property, donor’s hand paused, elder holding a palm-leaf rule text, ornate household setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional diagram-like scene: three labeled possessions (husband, wife, son) with a single permitted channel ‘household need’, fine lines and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate zenana/courtyard setting, exchange of gifts interrupted by a legal arbiter, detailed textiles and objects indicating ownership"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dadyādṛte → dadyāt ṛte; kuṭumbārthānna → kuṭumba-arthāt na.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vyavahara: dana, stridhana, and family property rules (same khanda)
FAQs
It imparts practical legal-dharma guidance on property alienation: family members should not gift away assets acquired by another member, except when required for essential household needs (kuṭumba-artha).
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa compiles civil norms and governance ethics; this verse functions like a dharmaśāstra rule on family property rights and limits on gifting, showing its coverage of social and legal administration.
It frames restraint and fairness in handling family wealth as dharma: avoiding wrongful disposal of another’s earnings prevents harm (hiṃsā/adharma) and supports household stability, which is treated as a meritorious, order-preserving duty.