Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 14
Chapter 253 — व्यवहारकथनम्
The Account of Legal Procedure
दर्शनप्रतिभूर्यत्र मृतः प्रात्ययिको ऽपि वा न तत्पुत्रा धनं दद्युर्दद्युर्दानाय ये स्थिताः
darśanapratibhūryatra mṛtaḥ prātyayiko 'pi vā na tatputrā dhanaṃ dadyurdadyurdānāya ye sthitāḥ
ಹಾಜರುಪಡಿಸುವ ಪ್ರತಿಭೂ ಮೃತನಾದಲ್ಲಿ, ಅಥವಾ ಪಾವತಿಗೆ ಭರವಸೆ ನೀಡಿದ ಪ್ರತಿಭೂ ಸಹ ಮೃತನಾದಲ್ಲಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನ ಪುತ್ರರಿಂದ ಆ ಹಣವನ್ನು ಕೊಡಿಸಬಾರದು; ದಾನವಿತರಣೆಗೆ ನಿಯುಕ್ತರಾದವರು ಅದನ್ನು ದಾನರೂಪವಾಗಿ ನೀಡಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s dharma/legal material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Rule for courts/creditors: liability of a deceased surety does not transfer to his sons; any amount connected with such suretyship is to be diverted to charitable disbursement where the text so appoints.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Non-liability of sons for deceased surety; diversion to dāna","lookup_keywords":["pratibhū","suretyship","putra-anṛṇa","liability after death","dāna-disbursement"],"quick_summary":"If the surety (for appearance or payment) dies, his sons are not to be compelled to pay. Where the case provides for it, the amount is to be treated as a charitable donation by the appointed disbursers."}
Concept: Nyāya in vyavahāra: responsibility is personal to the surety; heirs are protected; wealth may be redirected to dāna when dharma so ordains.
Application: Judges/administrators should prevent coercive recovery from heirs and ensure dharmic disposition of disputed sums.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dharma-shastra (Inheritance, debts, and charitable disposition of wealth)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court scene: creditor and officials present; the surety is shown deceased (funeral bier in background), while the judge forbids recovery from the sons and directs appointed trustees to place coins into a donation vessel for charity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, ornate court pavilion, dharmic king-judge with palm-leaf records, creditor and sons in traditional attire, donation pot and temple attendant receiving coins, dignified calm expressions","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf court canopy, central seated king as dharma-adhyaksha, stylized figures, rich jewelry, a gleaming donation kalasha with coins, temple charity recipient at side, symmetrical composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional court tableau with labeled roles (creditor, pratibhū-putra, dāna-adhikṛta), muted elegance, emphasis on gesture of prohibition and redirection to charity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar interior, patterned carpets, scribe with ledger, judge pointing to charity chest, sons standing relieved, subtle narrative of deceased surety indicated by mourning cloth, delicate shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दर्शनप्रतिभूर्+यत्र → दर्शनप्रतिभूर्यत्र; प्रात्ययिको+अपि → प्रात्ययिकोऽपि; तत्+पुत्राः → तत्पुत्राः; दद्युर्दद्युर्दानाय → दद्युः दद्युः दानाय (visarga/ru-sandhi in recitation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 253 (Vyavahāra: ṛṇa, pratibhū, dāna-vyavasthā)
FAQs
It gives a dharma-legal rule on suretyship: if a court surety (for appearance/production) or a payment-guarantor dies, the liability is not transferred to his sons; the amount is instead directed toward charitable donation by those entrusted with such disbursement.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance and jurisprudence—covering debts, guarantees, inheritance-liability limits, and socially sanctioned disposal of funds (dāna), reflecting its wide-ranging, encyclopedic scope.
It aligns legal settlement with dharma by preventing unjust hereditary burden while converting the disputed/held amount into dāna, a meritorious act believed to generate puṇya and support social welfare.