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
ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତି ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରତିଭୂ ମୃତ ହୋଇଛି, କିମ୍ବା ଦେୟ ନିଶ୍ଚୟକାରୀ ପ୍ରତିଭୂ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୃତ, ସେଠାରେ ତାହାର ପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କୁ ସେଇ ଧନ ଦେବାକୁ ବାଧ୍ୟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ; ଦାନ-ବିତରଣ ପାଇଁ ନିଯୁକ୍ତମାନେ ତାହାକୁ ଦାନରୂପେ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ।
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.