Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Ācāra
Right Conduct
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे विवाहो नाम सतुःपञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ पञ्चपञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः आचारः पुष्कर उवाच ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते चोत्थाय विष्ण्वादीन् दैवतान् स्मरेत् उभे मूत्रपुरीषे तु दिवा कुर्यादुदङ्मुखः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe vivāho nāma satuḥpañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha pañcapañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ ācāraḥ puṣkara uvāca brāhme muhūrte cotthāya viṣṇvādīn daivatān smaret ubhe mūtrapurīṣe tu divā kuryādudaṅmukhaḥ
وهكذا يختتم في «أغني مهابورانا» الفصل الرابع والخمسون بعد المئة المسمّى «الزواج» (Vivāha). والآن يبدأ الفصل الخامس والخمسون بعد المئة: «الآچارَة» (Ācāra—حُسن السلوك). قال بوشكرا: «ينهض المرء في براهمَ-موهورتا (brāhma-muhūrta، الزمن المبارك قبل الفجر) ويتذكّر الآلهة ابتداءً بفيشنو. وفي النهار، عند قضاء البول والغائط، فليكن متوجّهًا نحو الشمال».
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Daily regimen: waking at brāhma-muhūrta, deity-remembrance, and rules of bodily elimination with directional etiquette for purity and auspiciousness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ācāra: brāhma-muhūrta rising, smaraṇa, and north-facing elimination","lookup_keywords":["ācāra","brāhma-muhūrta","viṣṇu smaraṇa","śauca","udangmukha"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a daily conduct sequence: rise in brāhma-muhūrta, remember Viṣṇu and other deities, and perform daytime urination/defecation facing north as part of śauca and auspicious discipline."}
Concept: Ācāra as a foundation for inner steadiness: time-discipline (brāhma-muhūrta) + īśvara-smaraṇa + śauca.
Application: Adopt a morning sādhana routine anchored in early rising and remembrance; treat bodily acts as part of disciplined living rather than negligence.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Ācāra (Daily conduct, purity rules, ritual etiquette)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pre-dawn household: a person rises at brāhma-muhūrta, offers mental salutation to Viṣṇu at a small shrine, then follows cleanliness etiquette with a northward orientation during daytime elimination (shown symbolically via direction markers, not explicit).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dawn-blue background, devotee rising from a simple bed, lamp-lit shrine with Viṣṇu symbol, directional compass motif showing north, emphasis on purity and restraint, traditional flat forms.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted domestic shrine with Viṣṇu, devotee in añjali at pre-dawn, ornate border, subtle north-direction emblem, auspicious calm atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic sequence panel: (1) brāhma-muhūrta waking, (2) deva-smaraṇa at shrine, (3) śauca with north arrow icon; fine lines, clear instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, early morning interior with soft light, figure performing respectful remembrance before a small altar, a compass rose indicating north, refined domestic realism and detailed textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति + (अ) (यणादेश/संहितायाम्)। चोत्थाय = च + उत्थाय। ग्रहोत्तमाः/महापुराणे/विष्ण्वादीन् इत्यादिषु सामान्य-सन्धयः (विष्णु + आदीन् = विष्ण्वादीन्)।
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 155 (Ācāra chapter: daily conduct and purity rules); Agni Purāṇa 154 (transition from vivāha to ācāra; continuity of kāla-śuddhi)
FAQs
It gives practical āhnika/ācāra guidance: wake at brāhma-muhūrta, perform deity-smaraṇa (remembering Viṣṇu and others), and follow a directional rule (face north) for daytime elimination as part of purity discipline.
Alongside major topics like marriage (vivāha), it also codifies everyday behavioral and purity norms (ācāra), showing the text’s wide scope—from life-cycle rites to minute daily-regimen instructions.
Rising at brāhma-muhūrta and remembering deities is treated as a sattvic purification of mind, while regulated conduct regarding bodily functions reflects śauca (cleanliness) and self-discipline, supporting auspiciousness and reduced ritual impurity.