Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 24
Chapter 255: दायविभागकथनम्
On the Division of Inheritance
वानप्रस्थयतिब्रह्मचारिणामृक्थभागिनः क्रमेणाचार्यसच्छिष्यधर्मभ्रात्रेकतीर्थिनः
vānaprasthayatibrahmacāriṇāmṛkthabhāginaḥ krameṇācāryasacchiṣyadharmabhrātrekatīrthinaḥ
வானபிரஸ்தர், யதி (சந்நியாசி), பிரம்மச்சாரி ஆகியோரும் மரபுச் சொத்து பங்கிற்கு உரியவர்கள்; மேலும் முறையே ஆசாரியர், நல்ல சீடன், தர்மமுள்ள சகோதரன், ஒரே தீர்த்தம் சென்ற துணைத் தீர்த்தயாத்திரிகனும் உரியவர்.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Clarifying inheritance entitlements for āśrama-members (vānaprastha, yati, brahmacārin) and dharmic relations (ācārya, worthy disciple, righteous brother, ekatīrthin) to settle claims and prevent litigation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Āśrama-dharmiṇāṃ ṛktha-bhāga (Inheritance shares for āśrama persons and dharmic relations)","lookup_keywords":["vānaprastha","yati","brahmacārin","ācārya","ekatīrthin"],"quick_summary":"States that certain renunciatory or student life-stages and specific dharmic associates can be entitled to inheritance shares, in a defined order."}
Concept: Beyond bloodline, dharma recognizes āśrama-status and spiritual/ethical bonds (guru-śiṣya, sahatīrtha) as grounds for social entitlement.
Application: When adjudicating estates, consider both kinship and dharmic association; apply the stated order to prioritize claimants.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Āśrama-dharma & inheritance law)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mixed group—forest-dweller with bark garments, a yati with staff and ochre robe, a brahmacārin with mekhalā, alongside an ācārya and a worthy disciple—standing before elders who allocate inheritance shares in order.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, symbolic depiction of four-āśrama figures near a dharma-assembly, palm-leaf manuscript open to ṛktha-bhāga rules, tirtha motif in background (river steps), stylized ornaments and borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central ācārya and śiṣya with gold highlights, flanked by vānaprastha and yati, elders distributing a deed/coins, rich colors, embossed gold on garments and manuscript","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition showing each claimant type with identifying attributes (daṇḍa, kamaṇḍalu, mekhalā), orderly sequence arrows, soft palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, estate division scene with scribes and witnesses, ascetics and students rendered with fine detail, a river-ghāṭ in the background hinting at shared tirtha, delicate architecture and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वानप्रस्थयतिब्रह्मचारिणामृक्थभागिनः→वानप्रस्थ-यति-ब्रह्मचारिणाम् + ऋक्थ-भागिनः; क्रमेणाचार्यसच्छिष्यधर्मभ्रात्रेकतीर्थिनः→क्रमेण + आचार्य-सत्-शिष्य-धर्म-भ्रात्र-एक-तीर्थिनः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 255 (āśrama-dharma and dāya-bhāga sequence)
FAQs
It states a Dharma-shastra rule of ṛktha-vibhāga: even those in āśrama life-stages like brahmacārin, vānaprastha, and yati may be recognized as eligible recipients of a share, along with specified religious-social relations (teacher, worthy disciple, etc.).
Beyond myth and worship, it preserves applied legal doctrine—inheritance entitlement and social-ritual relationships—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of governance and civil law alongside theology.
By directing wealth toward dharmic persons and sacred associations (ācārya, sat-śiṣya, co-pilgrim), it frames inheritance as a merit-bearing act that supports learning, renunciation, and righteous living.