Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 23
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
एषामभावे पूवस्य धनभागुत्तरोत्तरः स्वर्यात्स्य ह्य् अपुत्रस्य सर्ववर्णेष्वयं विधिः
eṣāmabhāve pūvasya dhanabhāguttarottaraḥ svaryātsya hy aputrasya sarvavarṇeṣvayaṃ vidhiḥ
បើខ្វះអ្នកទទួលមរតកទាំងនេះ (ដែលបានរាយមុន) អ្នកបន្ទាប់ពីអ្នកមុន នឹងស្នងចំណែកទ្រព្យតាមលំដាប់សមរម្យ។ វិធាននេះអនុវត្តចំពោះបុរសស្លាប់ដោយគ្មានកូនប្រុស ក្នុងវណ្ណៈទាំងអស់។
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Establishing the order of succession for a sonless man across varṇas; used by judges, family elders, and scribes to resolve inheritance disputes.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Apūtrasya dāya-krama (Succession order when one dies sonless)","lookup_keywords":["aputra","dāya-bhāga","uttarottara","varṇa","vyavahāra"],"quick_summary":"If earlier heirs are absent, the next in the prescribed sequence inherits; the rule is stated as applicable across all varṇas for a sonless decedent."}
Concept: Dharma in property matters proceeds by a fixed hierarchy (krama) to prevent conflict; universality across varṇas is emphasized for this rule.
Application: Apply sequential succession: when a listed heir is absent, move to the next eligible claimant without skipping the order.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Daya-bhaga / Inheritance Law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court or village assembly where a judge/king’s officer consults a succession order scroll, pointing from one heir category to the next, indicating ‘in absence of the former, the next inherits’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, dharma-sabhā scene with a rājā or nyāya-adhikārī holding palm-leaf manuscript, attendants and disputing relatives in orderly rows, emphasis on didactic gesture showing succession sequence, ornate pillars and borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated king-judge with gold-highlighted throne, a scribe with manuscript of dāya-krama, heirs standing in graded order, rich jewel tones, embossed gold on crown and manuscript edges","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional court scene: judge, scribe, and a chart-like depiction of heir order, soft colors, fine outlines, calm expressions, emphasis on procedural clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtroom with carpets and arches, qāḍī-like dharma-judge and Hindu paṇḍit consulting a scroll, heirs arranged by rank, meticulous textiles and facial detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एषामभावे→एषाम् + अभावे; धनभागुत्तरोत्तरः→धन-भागः + उत्तर-उत्तरः; स्वर्यात्स्य→स्वर्यात् + स्यात्; ह्य्→हि; सर्ववर्णेष्वयं→सर्ववर्णेषु + अयम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (dāya-bhāga and heir lists preceding this verse)
FAQs
It imparts legal procedure (vyavahāra-vidhi) for inheritance: when specified heirs are absent, succession passes sequentially to the next eligible claimant.
It shows the text functioning as a dharma-and-governance manual by codifying practical civil law—property succession—alongside its ritual and theological materials.
By prescribing an orderly, dharma-based transfer of wealth for a sonless person, it aims to prevent dispute (adharma) and uphold social harmony, which is treated as a merit-bearing support of dharma.