Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 5
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
पितृद्रव्याविनाशेन यदन्यत् स्वयमर्जयेत् मैत्रमौद्वाहिकञ्चैव दायादानान्न तद्भवेत्
pitṛdravyāvināśena yadanyat svayamarjayet maitramaudvāhikañcaiva dāyādānānna tadbhavet
Tudo o mais que alguém adquire por esforço próprio, sem diminuir os bens do pai, bem como o que se obtém por amizade (dádiva de um amigo) e o que se recebe em conexão com o matrimónio, não se torna patrimônio hereditário a ser dividido entre os herdeiros.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s dharma-legal sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Classifying self-acquired property and certain receipts (friend-gifts, marriage-related gains) as non-partible/non-inheritable vis-à-vis paternal estate, aiding dispute resolution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Non-partible acquisitions: self-earned, friend-gifts, and marriage-related gains","lookup_keywords":["self-acquired property","non-inheritable","friend gift","marriage gifts","partition law"],"quick_summary":"Property gained by one’s own effort without diminishing paternal assets, as well as gifts from friends and certain marriage-related receipts, are treated as not forming part of divisible ancestral inheritance."}
Concept: Distinction between ancestral estate (subject to partition) and personal acquisitions (protected from compulsory division).
Application: During partition, segregate self-acquired assets and specified gifts/nuptial gains from the divisible pool; document provenance to prevent litigation.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Dharma-shastra: inheritance and property law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A partition scene where a scribe separates two ledgers: ancestral property on one side, self-earned and gifted items on the other; a friend presents a gift; marriage procession symbols indicate nuptial gains.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; stylized scribe with palm-leaf manuscripts dividing categories, friend offering a wrapped gift, wedding symbols (garlands, lamps) in background, clear separation of piles.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; gold-embellished gift box and wedding ornaments, central ledger with ornate border, figures in frontal arrangement emphasizing classification.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; instructional composition with labeled-like visual grouping—ancestral chest vs personal chest—fine linework, subdued palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed courtly accounting with two carpets of goods, friend presenting nazr-like gift, wedding entourage hinted in a side vignette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितृद्रव्याविनाशेन → पितृ-द्रव्य-अविनाशेन (compound chain; sense ‘without destroying ancestral property’); यदन्यत् → यत् + अन्यत्; स्वयमर्जयेत् → स्वयम् + अर्जयेत्; मैत्रमौद्वाहिकम् → मैत्रम् + औद्वाहिकम्; औद्वाहिकञ्चैव → औद्वाहिकम् + च + एव; दायादानान्न → दायादानात् + न (final -t before n).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (definitions of dāya vs svārjita)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of dharma-legal classification: self-acquired wealth earned without reducing ancestral property, gifts from friends, and marriage-related acquisitions are treated as non-divisible (not subject to partition among heirs).
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical jurisprudence (vyavahāra) on inheritance and property—showing it functions as a compendium of governance and civil law alongside theology.
By preventing unjust partition and protecting rightful ownership, it upholds dharma in family life; such fairness is treated as merit-bearing conduct that reduces conflict and supports social order.