Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 24

Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्

On the Division of Inheritance

Devanagari script

वानप्रस्थयतिब्रह्मचारिणामृक्थभागिनः क्रमेणाचार्यसच्छिष्यधर्मभ्रात्रेकतीर्थिनः

Transliteration

vānaprasthayatibrahmacāriṇāmṛkthabhāginaḥ krameṇācāryasacchiṣyadharmabhrātrekatīrthinaḥ

Translation

Les habitants de la forêt (vānaprastha), les renonçants (yati) et les étudiants célibataires (brahmacārin) ont droit à une part d’héritage; selon l’ordre prescrit, il en va de même du maître, du disciple digne, du frère juste selon le dharma et de l’unique compagnon de pèlerinage (au même tīrtha).

Word by Word

• वानप्रस्थ-यति-ब्रह्मचारिणाम्: of vānaprasthas, ascetics, and brahmacārins
• वानप्रस्थ-यति-ब्रह्मचारिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + यति (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: वानप्रस्थाः च यतयः च ब्रह्मचारिणः च

• ऋक्थ-भागिनः: sharers of the inheritance
• ऋक्थ-भागिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + भागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: ‘ऋक्थस्य भागिनः’ (sharers of inheritance)

• क्रमेण: in due order
• क्रमेण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (instrumental used adverbially): ‘क्रमेण’ = in order/successively

• आचार्य-सत्-शिष्य-धर्म-भ्रात्र-एक-तीर्थिनः: teachers, good disciples, religious brethren, and fellow-students
• आचार्य-सत्-शिष्य-धर्म-भ्रात्र-एक-तीर्थिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (सूची): आचार्याः, सत्शिष्याः, धर्मभ्रातरः, एकतीर्थिनः (सहाध्यायिनः)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Clarifying inheritance entitlements for āśrama-members (vānaprastha, yati, brahmacārin) and dharmic relations (ācārya, worthy disciple, righteous brother, ekatīrthin) to settle claims and prevent litigation.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Āśrama-dharmiṇāṃ ṛktha-bhāga (Inheritance shares for āśrama persons and dharmic relations)","lookup_keywords":["vānaprastha","yati","brahmacārin","ācārya","ekatīrthin"],"quick_summary":"States that certain renunciatory or student life-stages and specific dharmic associates can be entitled to inheritance shares, in a defined order."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Beyond bloodline, dharma recognizes āśrama-status and spiritual/ethical bonds (guru-śiṣya, sahatīrtha) as grounds for social entitlement.

Application: When adjudicating estates, consider both kinship and dharmic association; apply the stated order to prioritize claimants.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Āśrama-dharma & inheritance law)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: Tirtha

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mixed group—forest-dweller with bark garments, a yati with staff and ochre robe, a brahmacārin with mekhalā, alongside an ācārya and a worthy disciple—standing before elders who allocate inheritance shares in order.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, symbolic depiction of four-āśrama figures near a dharma-assembly, palm-leaf manuscript open to ṛktha-bhāga rules, tirtha motif in background (river steps), stylized ornaments and borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central ācārya and śiṣya with gold highlights, flanked by vānaprastha and yati, elders distributing a deed/coins, rich colors, embossed gold on garments and manuscript","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition showing each claimant type with identifying attributes (daṇḍa, kamaṇḍalu, mekhalā), orderly sequence arrows, soft palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, estate division scene with scribes and witnesses, ascetics and students rendered with fine detail, a river-ghāṭ in the background hinting at shared tirtha, delicate architecture and textiles"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: वानप्रस्थयतिब्रह्मचारिणामृक्थभागिनः→वानप्रस्थ-यति-ब्रह्मचारिणाम् + ऋक्थ-भागिनः; क्रमेणाचार्यसच्छिष्यधर्मभ्रात्रेकतीर्थिनः→क्रमेण + आचार्य-सत्-शिष्य-धर्म-भ्रात्र-एक-तीर्थिनः.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (āśrama-dharma and dāya-bhāga sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vānaprastha
• Yati
• Brahmacārin
• Ācārya
• Śiṣya
• Tīrtha

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It states a Dharma-shastra rule of ṛktha-vibhāga: even those in āśrama life-stages like brahmacārin, vānaprastha, and yati may be recognized as eligible recipients of a share, along with specified religious-social relations (teacher, worthy disciple, etc.).

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond myth and worship, it preserves applied legal doctrine—inheritance entitlement and social-ritual relationships—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of governance and civil law alongside theology.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By directing wealth toward dharmic persons and sacred associations (ācārya, sat-śiṣya, co-pilgrim), it frames inheritance as a merit-bearing act that supports learning, renunciation, and righteous living.