Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 9
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
क्रमादभ्यागतं द्रव्यं हृतमभ्युद्धरेच्च यः दायादेभ्यो न तद्दद्याद्विद्यया लब्धमेव च
kramādabhyāgataṃ dravyaṃ hṛtamabhyuddharecca yaḥ dāyādebhyo na taddadyādvidyayā labdhameva ca
ଯେ କେହି କ୍ରମେ ଫେରିପାଇଥିବା ଚୋରା ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟକୁ ଦାୟାଦମାନଙ୍କୁ (ଉତ୍ତରାଧିକାରୀମାନଙ୍କୁ) ନ ଦେଇ ରଖେ, ଏବଂ ଏହିପରି ଭାବେ ବିଦ୍ୟାଦ୍ୱାରା ଲାଭିତ ଧନକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଟକାଇ ରଖେ—ସେ ଦୋଷଭାଗୀ ହୁଏ।
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma/legal sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guiding ethical-legal duty after recovery of stolen property and clarifying that gains from learning (vidya-labdha) must not be wrongfully withheld from rightful claimants/heirs where applicable.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Hrita-dravya uddharaṇa and vidya-labdha withholding (Wrongful retention)","lookup_keywords":["hrita","abhyuddharet","dayada","vidya-labdha","anupadana"],"quick_summary":"Recovering stolen property creates a duty to restore it to rightful heirs; similarly, one must not unjustly withhold gains obtained through learning—establishing a norm against misappropriation."}
Concept: Restitution (pratyavahara) and non-appropriation: recovery does not convert another’s property into one’s own; learning-based gains also carry ethical constraints.
Application: In adjudication, treat concealment after recovery as a fresh wrongful act; require disclosure and transfer to dayadas, and scrutinize claims of ‘earned by learning’ used to mask misappropriation.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra / Legal-Ethics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A recovered stolen chest is brought before a judge; the recoverer hesitates to hand it to the heirs; a teacher-scholar motif indicates ‘vidya-labdha’ wealth, contrasting rightful transfer vs concealment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic yet restrained: recovered treasure chest, heirs with folded hands, judge pointing to dharma, scholar with palm-leaf manuscripts symbolizing learning-gains, moral tension conveyed through posture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-glinting chest and manuscripts, courtly setting, dharma-scale motif, heirs and recoverer in opposing sides, ornate halo-like emphasis on justice.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: arrows/labels showing ‘recover → return to dayada’, ‘vidya-labdha → do not withhold’, clean lines, gentle colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed legal hearing with recovered goods displayed, expressive faces, manuscripts and inkpot for scholar-wealth, fine textiles and architectural backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kramādabhyāgatam = kramāt + abhyāgatam; hṛtamabhyuddharecca = hṛtam + abhyuddharet + ca; taddadyāt = tat + dadyāt; dadyādvidyayā = dadyāt + vidyayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (rules on heirs, recovery, and division)
FAQs
It gives a legal-ethical rule: recovered stolen property must be delivered to the rightful heirs, and gains attributed to one’s learning should not be wrongfully withheld when heirs have a rightful claim.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves practical Dharmaśāstra material—inheritance, ownership, and restitution—showing its coverage of governance and civil law alongside spiritual topics.
Wrongfully withholding what belongs to heirs—especially recovered property—constitutes adharma; it generates negative karma by violating rightful ownership and social order (nyāya) upheld by dharma.