Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 6
Chapter 253 — व्यवहारकथनम्
The Account of Legal Procedure
अविभुक्तैः कुटुम्बार्थं यदृणन्तु कृतम्भवेत् दद्युस्तदृक्थिनः प्रेते प्रोषिते वा कुटुम्बिनि
avibhuktaiḥ kuṭumbārthaṃ yadṛṇantu kṛtambhavet dadyustadṛkthinaḥ prete proṣite vā kuṭumbini
ਜੇ ਅਵਿਭਾਜਿਤ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੇ ਘਰ ਦੇ ਹਿਤ ਲਈ ਕਰਜ਼ਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਘਰ-ਮਾਲਕ ਦੇ ਮਰ ਜਾਣ ਜਾਂ ਲੰਮੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਲਈ ਦੂਰ ਹੋਣ ਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਵਾਰਸ ਉਹ ਕਰਜ਼ਾ ਅਦਾ ਕਰਨ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Determines liability in joint-family finance: debts incurred for household purposes bind the estate; heirs must repay when the manager dies or is long absent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Joint-Family Household Debt and Heirs’ Repayment Duty","lookup_keywords":["avibhakta-kutumba","kutūmbārtha","rina","rkthin","proshita"],"quick_summary":"In an undivided family, a debt taken for household needs is repayable by heirs/estate-holders upon the householder’s death or prolonged absence."}
Concept: Kula-dharma in economic life: obligations undertaken for the common household attach to the joint estate, not merely the individual.
Application: For family governance and courts: verify the purpose (kutūmbārtha) of the loan; if for common benefit, enforce repayment from the estate/heirs after death/absence of the manager.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharmaśāstra: inheritance, debts, and family law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: artha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A joint family gathered around a household granary; a loan agreement is made for family needs; later, heirs repay the lender at a formal meeting after the head’s death/absence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, extended family in traditional attire, lender with palm-leaf contract, granary and cattle in background, solemn repayment scene with lamps","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold detailing on granary doors and contract seal, heirs offering repayment coins, dignified lender, auspicious household motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic split-panel: left ‘debt for household’ with contract; right ‘repayment by heirs’ with ledger, clear captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with accountants, heirs presenting coin tray, lender verifying bond, architectural precision and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yadṛṇantu → yat ṛṇam tu; kṛtambhavet → kṛtam bhavet; dadyustadṛkthinaḥ → dadyuḥ tat-ṛkthinaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vyavahara: rina-prakarana and rules on undivided property (same khanda)
FAQs
It gives a legal rule of vyavahāra: debts incurred for the joint household are binding, and heirs (ṛkthins) must discharge them if the family head dies or is long absent.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical Dharmaśāstra material—rules of liability, inheritance, and household governance—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium of applied law and social order.
Repaying a rightful family debt sustains dharma, prevents harm to creditors, and avoids the moral taint (pāpa) associated with defaulting on obligations tied to one’s lineage and estate.