Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 2
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
यदि दद्यात् समानंशान् कार्याः पत्न्यः समांशिकाः न दत्तं स्त्रीधनं यासां भर्त्रा वा श्वशुरेन वा
yadi dadyāt samānaṃśān kāryāḥ patnyaḥ samāṃśikāḥ na dattaṃ strīdhanaṃ yāsāṃ bhartrā vā śvaśurena vā
(ഭർത്താവിന്റെ സ്വത്ത്) സമപങ്കായി വിഭജിക്കുകയാണെങ്കിൽ, ഭാര്യമാരെയും സമപങ്കാളികളാക്കണം. ഭർത്താവോ ശ്വശുരനോ നൽകാത്ത സ്ത്രീധനം ഉള്ള ഭാര്യമാർക്ക് യഥോചിതമായ പരിഹാരം/വ്യവസ്ഥ ചെയ്യണം.
Lord Agni (instructional narration in Agni Purana’s dharma/legal section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guiding equitable partition of a husband’s estate among multiple wives, with special provisioning for wives whose strīdhana was not previously settled.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Equal shares for wives and adjustment for unpaid Strīdhana","lookup_keywords":["stridhana","inheritance","equal shares","wives","partition"],"quick_summary":"When the estate is divided equally, wives are treated as equal sharers; any wife whose strīdhana was not given by husband or father-in-law must be compensated/provided for before final settlement."}
Concept: Fairness in distribution and safeguarding of strīdhana as a woman’s protected property-interest.
Application: In family settlements or adjudication, verify unpaid strīdhana and adjust shares/maintenance before concluding partition.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Rajadharma (Inheritance and Strīdhana rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A household legal assembly where an estate is being divided; multiple wives sit as claimants while elders record shares; a chest of ornaments symbolizes unpaid strīdhana.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, stylized faces; a dharma-sabha scene with a seated judge/elder, multiple wives in traditional attire, palm-leaf ledger, jewelry chest representing strīdhana, calm solemn mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights; central elder/judge on a throne-like seat, wives arranged symmetrically, ornate jewelry chest with gold detailing, rich textiles, frontal iconic composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate lines and soft shading; instructional court/household partition scene, clear depiction of shares being measured and recorded, emphasis on documents and ornaments.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed interior of a noble house-court, scribes with papers, women claimants behind a screen/curtain, jewelry and coins on a carpet, precise architectural detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समानंशान् → समान + अंशान्; समांशिकाः → सम + अंशिकाः; स्त्रीधनम् is a तत्पुरुष compound (स्त्रियाः धनम्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (Rajadharma/Vyavahara: dāya-bhāga, strīdhana)
FAQs
It imparts dharma-legal guidance: when distributing property in equal portions, wives are recognized as equal claimants, and any wife lacking her strīdhana (woman’s reserved property) must be accounted for.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical governance and civil law norms—here, inheritance allocation and protection of strīdhana—showing its wide coverage of social, legal, and administrative knowledge.
Upholding fair distribution and ensuring a woman’s rightful strīdhana aligns with dharma; it is treated as ethically purifying conduct, while neglect or injustice in such obligations is traditionally regarded as generating demerit (adharma).