Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 2
Vānaprastha-āśrama
The Forest-Dweller Stage of Life
वने वासः पयोमूलनीवारफलवृत्तिता प्रतिग्रहनिवृत्तिश् च त्रिःस्नानं ब्रह्मचारिता
vane vāsaḥ payomūlanīvāraphalavṛttitā pratigrahanivṛttiś ca triḥsnānaṃ brahmacāritā
السكن في الغابة؛ والاقتات باللبن والجذور وأرزّ البرّ (نِيفارا) والثمار؛ وترك قبول العطايا؛ والاغتسال ثلاث مرات يوميًا؛ وحفظ سلوك البراهمتشريا—فهذه هي الرياضات المقرّرة.
Lord Agni (teaching the āśrama-dharma portion in the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"A practical code for vānaprastha conduct: forest residence, regulated foraging/diet, non-acceptance of gifts, thrice-daily bathing, and celibacy—forming a daily regimen.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vānaprastha-niyama (Diet, Bathing, Non-acceptance, Celibacy)","lookup_keywords":["payo","mūla","nīvāra","trih-snāna","brahmacarya"],"quick_summary":"The forest-dweller lives on simple forest foods (milk, roots, wild rice, fruits), avoids gift-taking, bathes thrice daily, and maintains celibacy—disciplining senses and dependence."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Niyama as a means to weaken attachment: controlled diet, bodily discipline, and celibacy stabilize mind for higher pursuit.
Application: Design a daily schedule: simple food procurement, fixed bathing times, strict boundaries on receiving/possessing, and brahmacarya as a vow.
Khanda Section: Dharma-śāstra / Āśrama-dharma (Rules of conduct for the four āśramas)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Vīra (self-control)
Type: Sacred landscape
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vānaprastha in a forest collects roots and fruits, cooks nīvāra, keeps a small milk vessel; nearby a river for thrice-daily bathing; a gesture of refusal toward offered gifts; calm celibate demeanor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative panels: foraging roots/fruits, cooking nīvāra, bathing in a river thrice (three small vignettes), refusing gifts; stylized forest and water motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central ascetic with simple food offerings (milk, fruits) and a river motif; gold detailing on vessels and border; emphasis on purity and restraint.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional layout showing the regimen items (milk, roots, nīvāra, fruits) and ‘triḥ-snāna’ as three river dips; clean, diagram-like clarity with soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest scene with a stream; ascetic gathering food and bathing; a villager offering gifts being politely declined; fine naturalistic rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिःस्नानं = त्रिः + स्नानम् (अव्ययीभाव).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 160.1 (vānaprastha marks); Agni Purana 159 (śauca—purity underpinning snāna and restraint)
FAQs
It lays down āśrama-dharma observances: forest residence, regulated diet (milk, roots, nīvāra, fruits), non-acceptance of gifts (pratigraha-nivṛtti), thrice-daily bathing, and brahmacarya as a practical discipline.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogs applied norms of life—here, a concise code for ascetic/forest-stage living—showing its wide coverage of law, ethics, and daily practice.
These restraints cultivate purity (through triḥ-snāna), non-attachment (through avoiding gifts), and self-control (through brahmacarya), supporting tapas and reducing karmic entanglement.