Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 20
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
सजातीयेष्वयं प्रोक्तस्तनयेषु मया विधिः जातो ऽपि दास्यां शूद्रस्य कामतो ऽंशहरो भवेत्
sajātīyeṣvayaṃ proktastanayeṣu mayā vidhiḥ jāto 'pi dāsyāṃ śūdrasya kāmato 'ṃśaharo bhavet
この規定は、同一のヴァルナ（種姓）に属する子らについて、わたしが説いたものである。たとえシュードラ（Śūdra）が女奴隷から得た子であっても、父の意向によっては、相続分を受ける相続人となり得る。
Lord Agni (narrating dharma/legal instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for adjudicating inheritance eligibility within caste norms, including discretionary heirship for a Śūdra’s son born of a slave woman.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Heirship rule among sajātīya sons; Śūdra slave-born son’s share by will","lookup_keywords":["sajātīya","śūdra","dāsī-putra","kāmataḥ","aṃśa-hara"],"quick_summary":"States that the preceding rules apply to sons of the same caste, and adds that a Śūdra may, by choice, allot an inheritance share to a son born from a slave woman."}
Concept: Vyavahāra balances fixed social categories with limited paternal discretion in allocating shares.
Application: In legal settings, treat this as a rule of eligibility conditioned by the father’s expressed intent (kāmataḥ) for the specified case.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Rajadharma (Inheritance and legal norms)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A household inheritance council where a Śūdra father indicates (by gesture or document) that a son born of a dāsī is to receive a share; elders and witnesses observe the declaration.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior council scene with seated elders, father pointing to a palm-leaf record, the dāsī and child respectfully present; restrained palette, emphasis on solemnity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, formal family assembly with gold ornamentation on textiles and vessels; father’s decisive gesture granting a share; symmetrical, ceremonial framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, procedural depiction of ‘kāmataḥ’ discretion: father’s declaration, witnesses, scribe; clean composition for legal clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, estate-division scene with meticulous costume detail; father’s will-like declaration, attendants holding documents, architectural backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सजातीयेष्वयं → सजातीयेषु + अयम्; प्रोक्तस्तनयेषु → प्रोक्तः + तनयेषु; जातो ऽपि → जातः + अपि; कामतो ऽंशहरो → कामतः + अंशहरः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (caste-conditioned inheritance rules)
FAQs
It imparts a dharma-legal rule (dāyabhāga) on eligibility to inherit: a Śūdra’s son born from a dāsī may receive a share if the father so chooses.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana includes Smṛti-like civil norms—here, inheritance eligibility—showing its coverage of governance and social law (rājadharma/dharmaśāstra).
It frames inheritance as a dharmically regulated social duty: orderly allocation of shares reduces conflict and supports household stability, treated as part of righteous conduct (dharma) for the community.