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
ಸಹೋದರರು, ದಂಪತಿಗಳು, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ತಂದೆ-ಪುತ್ರರ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ—ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರಾದರೂ ವಿಪತ್ತಿನಿಂದ ಪೀಡಿತರಾದರೂ—ಪ್ರತಿಭಾ (ಜಾಮೀನು)ಯಿಂದ ಭದ್ರಪಡಿಸಿದ ಋಣವನ್ನು ವಸೂಲಿಸಬಹುದು; ಮತ್ತು ಅವಿಭಕ್ತ ಸಹಪಾಲುದಾರನೂ ಆ ವಸೂಲಿಗೆ ಹೊಣೆಗಾರನೆಂದು ಸ್ಮೃತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ.
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.