Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 19
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
उत्सृष्टो गृह्यते यस्तु सोपविद्धो भवेत् सुतः पिण्डदो ऽंशहरश् चैषां पूर्वाभावे परः परः
utsṛṣṭo gṛhyate yastu sopaviddho bhavet sutaḥ piṇḍado 'ṃśaharaś caiṣāṃ pūrvābhāve paraḥ paraḥ
ଯେ ପୁତ୍ର ପରିତ୍ୟକ୍ତ ହୋଇ ପରେ (କୌଣସି ପରିବାରରେ) ଗୃହୀତ ହୁଏ, ସେ ‘ଅପବିଦ୍ଧ’ ପୁତ୍ର। ସେ ପିଣ୍ଡଦାନ କରିବାକୁ ଓ ଉତ୍ତରାଧିକାରରେ ଅଂଶ ପାଇବାକୁ ଅଧିକାରୀ; ଏମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ପୂର୍ବବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ନଥିଲେ କ୍ରମେ ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ଅଧିକାରୀ ହୁଏ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Determining rights of an abandoned-but-accepted son (apaviddha) to perform śrāddha offerings and inherit, and establishing priority order among son-types.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Apaviddha (accepted/received) son and succession priority","lookup_keywords":["apaviddha","utsṛṣṭa","piṇḍa-dāna","aṃśa-hara","priority order"],"quick_summary":"Defines the apaviddha son (abandoned then taken) and affirms his eligibility for piṇḍa offerings and inheritance; also states that entitlement proceeds in order when a prior category is absent."}
Concept: Dharma integrates compassion and social order by granting ritual and property rights to an accepted abandoned child, within a ranked system of entitlement.
Application: In disputes, verify acceptance into the household and then apply the stated order-of-preference for piṇḍa and inheritance claims.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Putra-vidhi / Dattaka & Putra-bheda)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A child left outside a home is compassionately received by a householder; later the same child performs piṇḍa offerings at an ancestor rite and is seated among heirs during division of property.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, emotive scene of a found child at the threshold, elders welcoming; second register shows śrāddha with rice-balls and water libations, subdued sacred palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, auspicious household adoption moment with gold accents; separate vignette of śrāddha ritual with ritual vessels, banana leaves, and priestly presence.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear two-step instructional depiction: (1) acceptance into family, (2) piṇḍa-dāna and inheritance seating; fine outlines and readable gestures.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative progression: courtyard discovery and later a formal inheritance assembly; intricate carpets, attendants, and ritual paraphernalia."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यस्तु → यः + तु; सोपविद्धो → स + उपविद्धः; पिण्डदो ऽंशहरश् → पिण्डदः + अंशहरः; चैषां → च + एषाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (rules on piṇḍa and aṃśa for son-types)
FAQs
It defines the apaviddha (accepted-after-abandonment) son and assigns him two key legal-ritual competencies: offering piṇḍa (śrāddha duty) and taking a share of inheritance, with succession passing to the next eligible category if the prior is unavailable.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves Dharmaśāstra-style civil norms—adoption/son-classifications, inheritance entitlement, and śrāddha authority—showing its coverage of practical jurisprudence and household governance.
By authorizing who may perform piṇḍa and continue the lineage rites, the verse safeguards ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tṛpti) and the continuity of obligatory rites, which are treated as merit-bearing duties that stabilize family dharma.