Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 4
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
विभजेयुः सुताः पित्रोरूर्ध्वमृक्थमृणं समम् मातुर्दुहितरः शेषमृणात्ताभ्य ऋते ऽन्नयः
vibhajeyuḥ sutāḥ pitrorūrdhvamṛkthamṛṇaṃ samam māturduhitaraḥ śeṣamṛṇāttābhya ṛte 'nnayaḥ
父母の没後、息子たちは負債を含めた遺産を等分して分けるべきである。母の娘たちは、負債を弁済した後の残余を受け取るが、ただし食糧の穀物（備蓄）はその取り分から除外される。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Rules for partition of inheritance and allocation of liabilities (debts), and residual entitlements of daughters after debt clearance with specified exclusions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Equal division of estate and debt among sons; residual share for daughters after debt (excluding provisions)","lookup_keywords":["inheritance","debt division","sons","daughters","food-grain exclusion"],"quick_summary":"Sons divide both assets and debts equally after parents’ death; daughters receive what remains after debts are paid, but staple provisions/food-grain are excluded from their allotment."}
Concept: Heirs inherit not only wealth but also obligations; distribution is conditioned by prior settlement of debts and preservation of household sustenance.
Application: In estate administration, inventory debts first, apportion liabilities with assets among principal heirs, then compute residual entitlements; ring-fence essential provisions for household continuity.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra / Inheritance Law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A post-funeral family council: sons weigh coins and tally debts on a board; daughters stand to receive residual items; sacks of grain are set aside as excluded provisions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; family council with stylized sacks of rice, balance scales, palm-leaf accounts, sons seated in front, daughters to the side, calm legal mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; gold-highlighted scales and coin piles, richly dressed heirs, grain sacks rendered with ornate patterns, frontal composition emphasizing dharma of settlement.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; neat, didactic scene showing two piles—assets and debts—then a residual pile for daughters; soft colors, fine outlines, clarity of objects.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed indoor accounting scene with ledgers, money-changer’s scales, grain storage jars, nuanced gestures of negotiation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पित्रोरूर्ध्वम् → पित्रोः + ऊर्ध्वम्; मातुर्दुहितरः → मातुः + दुहितरः; शेषमृणात्ताभ्यः → शेषम् + ऋणात् + ताभ्यः; ऽन्नयः → अन्यः (अ + अन्यः with avagraha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (dāya, ṛṇa, partition rules)
FAQs
It imparts vyavahāra-vidhi (legal procedure): how heirs should partition an estate—first accounting for outstanding debts, then allocating the remainder with a specific exception regarding food-grain/provisions.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical Dharma-shastra material on civil law—inheritance, debt settlement, and heirs’ entitlements—showing the text’s coverage of governance and jurisprudence alongside ritual and devotion.
By prioritizing repayment of debts and orderly partition, the verse supports dharmic conduct that prevents disputes, upholds fairness among heirs, and avoids the karmic burden associated with unpaid obligations and family discord.