Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 12
Chapter 253 — व्यवहारकथनम्
The Account of Legal Procedure
भ्रातॄणामथ दम्पत्योः पितुः पुत्रस्य चैव हि व्यसनाभिप्लुतेपि वेति ख , घ , ञ च प्रतिभाव्यमृणं ग्राह्यमविभक्तेन च स्मृतम्
bhrātṝṇāmatha dampatyoḥ pituḥ putrasya caiva hi vyasanābhiplutepi veti kha , gha , ña ca pratibhāvyamṛṇaṃ grāhyamavibhaktena ca smṛtam
Dans le cas des frères, des époux, et pareillement du père et du fils—même si l’un est frappé par le malheur—la dette garantie par une caution (pratibhā) doit être recouvrée ; et l’on tient aussi pour établi que le copartageant non divisé est tenu pour ce recouvrement.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma-legal section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Rules for recovery of debts secured by surety (pratibhā) among close relations and within undivided joint property; clarifies liability even under calamity and for co-parceners.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Pratibhū-ṛṇa-grahaṇa in joint families (brothers, spouses, father-son; avibhakta liability)","lookup_keywords":["pratibhā","pratibhū","avibhakta","bhrātṛ","dampatī","pitr-putra"],"quick_summary":"Debts backed by surety are recoverable even when a party is calamity-struck; in an undivided family, co-parceners may be held liable for such secured recovery."}
Concept: Pratibhū (surety) as a legal instrument; joint-family (avibhakta) responsibility in secured obligations.
Application: When adjudicating recovery, check whether a surety exists and whether the debtor is part of an undivided coparcenary; allocate recovery accordingly.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra / Legal Procedure and Debt-Law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: dharmya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A creditor presents a bond with a surety seal; brothers/spouses/father-son stand as a joint household; the judge orders recovery from the undivided family pool despite one member’s calamity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, court with palm-leaf bond bearing seal, surety standing beside debtor; joint family group (brothers, couple, father-son) shown together; judge gestures toward common granary/treasury symbolizing avibhakta assets","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold on treasury chest and court arch, creditor holding bond, surety with raised hand of guarantee, joint family in rich attire, king-judge indicating recovery from common estate","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, schematic clarity: bond, surety, debtor, coparceners; a shared property chest labeled ‘avibhakta’; calm didactic composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed legal hearing, document with seal, surety standing, joint family members in a row, clerk recording, judge ordering recovery from shared household stores"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhrātṝṇāmatha → bhrātṝṇām atha; vyasanābhiplutepi → vyasana-abhiplute api; grāhyamavibhaktena → grāhyam avibhaktena. Segment ‘veti kha, gha, ña’ appears as textual apparatus/variant markers; semantic reading uncertain.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 253.13 (types of surety and liability on failure)
FAQs
It imparts legal-technical knowledge of ṛṇa-vyavahāra: a debt backed by a surety (pratibhā) remains recoverable, and liability can extend to an undivided co-parcener in joint-family contexts.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves Dharmaśāstra-style civil law—here, enforceability of secured debts and rules of liability among close relations and joint-family members—showing its coverage of governance and jurisprudence.
By emphasizing repayment and enforceable liability even in adversity, it supports dharma in economic conduct: honoring debts and guarantees sustains social trust and is treated as a righteous obligation with karmic weight.