Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 20
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
सजातीयेष्वयं प्रोक्तस्तनयेषु मया विधिः जातो ऽपि दास्यां शूद्रस्य कामतो ऽंशहरो भवेत्
sajātīyeṣvayaṃ proktastanayeṣu mayā vidhiḥ jāto 'pi dāsyāṃ śūdrasya kāmato 'ṃśaharo bhavet
ஒரே வர்ணத்திலுள்ள மகன்கள் குறித்து இந்த விதியை நான் கூறினேன். சூத்ரனுக்கு அடிமைப் பெண்ணிடமிருந்து பிறந்த மகனும் தந்தையின் விருப்பத்தின்படி மரபுரிமையில் பங்கு பெறக்கூடும்.
Lord Agni (narrating dharma/legal instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for adjudicating inheritance eligibility within caste norms, including discretionary heirship for a Śūdra’s son born of a slave woman.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Heirship rule among sajātīya sons; Śūdra slave-born son’s share by will","lookup_keywords":["sajātīya","śūdra","dāsī-putra","kāmataḥ","aṃśa-hara"],"quick_summary":"States that the preceding rules apply to sons of the same caste, and adds that a Śūdra may, by choice, allot an inheritance share to a son born from a slave woman."}
Concept: Vyavahāra balances fixed social categories with limited paternal discretion in allocating shares.
Application: In legal settings, treat this as a rule of eligibility conditioned by the father’s expressed intent (kāmataḥ) for the specified case.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Rajadharma (Inheritance and legal norms)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A household inheritance council where a Śūdra father indicates (by gesture or document) that a son born of a dāsī is to receive a share; elders and witnesses observe the declaration.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior council scene with seated elders, father pointing to a palm-leaf record, the dāsī and child respectfully present; restrained palette, emphasis on solemnity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, formal family assembly with gold ornamentation on textiles and vessels; father’s decisive gesture granting a share; symmetrical, ceremonial framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, procedural depiction of ‘kāmataḥ’ discretion: father’s declaration, witnesses, scribe; clean composition for legal clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, estate-division scene with meticulous costume detail; father’s will-like declaration, attendants holding documents, architectural backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सजातीयेष्वयं → सजातीयेषु + अयम्; प्रोक्तस्तनयेषु → प्रोक्तः + तनयेषु; जातो ऽपि → जातः + अपि; कामतो ऽंशहरो → कामतः + अंशहरः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (caste-conditioned inheritance rules)
FAQs
It imparts a dharma-legal rule (dāyabhāga) on eligibility to inherit: a Śūdra’s son born from a dāsī may receive a share if the father so chooses.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana includes Smṛti-like civil norms—here, inheritance eligibility—showing its coverage of governance and social law (rājadharma/dharmaśāstra).
It frames inheritance as a dharmically regulated social duty: orderly allocation of shares reduces conflict and supports household stability, treated as part of righteous conduct (dharma) for the community.