Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 30
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
पितृमातृपतिभ्रातृदत्तमध्यग्न्युपागतं आधिवेदनिकुञ्चैव स्त्रीधनं परिकीर्तितं
pitṛmātṛpatibhrātṛdattamadhyagnyupāgataṃ ādhivedanikuñcaiva strīdhanaṃ parikīrtitaṃ
पितृमातृपतिभ्रातृदत्तं, मध्यग्न्युपागतं, आधिवेदनिकं च—एतत् स्त्रीधनं परिकीर्तितम्।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Agni Purana’s primary narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Identifying and documenting categories of strīdhana for legal protection, inheritance, and dispute resolution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Strīdhana: sources of a woman’s separate property","lookup_keywords":["stridhana","pitr-datta","matr-datta","patidatta","adhivedanika"],"quick_summary":"A woman’s property includes gifts from natal and marital kin and specific nuptial-rite gifts; these should be recognized as her separate estate."}
Concept: Strīdhana is a distinct legal category grounded in gift-source and ritual occasion, protecting a woman’s proprietary identity within gṛhastha life.
Application: Maintain written inventories of gifts at marriage and from relatives; treat them as separate property in partition and debt disputes.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Strīdhana-nirūpaṇa (Law of inheritance and women’s property)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A wedding fire-rite scene where relatives present gifts—jewelry, cloth, vessels—while a scribe records them as strīdhana; the bride stands near the sacred fire (agni).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vivaha scene with sacred fire, bride and groom in traditional attire, father/mother/brother offering gifts, attendants holding jewelry and cloth bundles, palm-leaf scribe, flat vivid palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, wedding agni at center with gold leaf flames, bride adorned with heavy jewelry, relatives offering ornate gift trays, embossed gold detailing on ornaments and vessels, symmetrical composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise depiction of ritual implements (agni-kunda, ladles), labeled gift categories visually (from father/mother/husband/brother), delicate lines and soft colors, instructional feel","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate marriage ceremony with detailed textiles, gift bearers presenting trays, scribe noting items, architectural pavilion, naturalistic fire and expressions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितृ+मातृ+पति+भ्रातृ+दत्तम् → पितृमातृपतिभ्रातृदत्तम् (समाहार-द्वन्द्व of donors + क्त ‘given’); मध्यग्नि+उपागतम् → मध्यग्न्युपागतम्; आधिवेदनिकम्+उ+च+एव → आधिवेदनिकुञ्चैव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (strīdhana-nirūpaṇa and succession rules)
FAQs
It gives a Dharma-śāstra definition of strīdhana by listing its recognized sources, including gifts from close kin, nuptial-fire (adhyagni) gifts, and the ādhivedanika payment/gift.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical legal categories—here, property classification within marriage and inheritance—showing its coverage of governance and jurisprudence (dharma) as well as worship.
By defining lawful ownership and proper marital conduct, it supports dharma (social-ethical order), reducing conflict and adharma around wealth, which is treated as karmically consequential in Purāṇic ethics.