Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 10
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
पाणिपात्री भवेद्वापि पात्रे पात्रात् समाचरेत् अवेक्षेत गतिं नॄणां कर्मदोषसमुद्भवां
pāṇipātrī bhavedvāpi pātre pātrāt samācaret avekṣeta gatiṃ nṝṇāṃ karmadoṣasamudbhavāṃ
ولو اضطرّ المرءُ أن يجعل كفَّه إناءَ السؤال، فعليه أن يلتزم الأدبَ مع المستحقّ. وليتأمّل مصائرَ الناس على أنها ناشئةٌ من عيوب أفعالهم هم (الكارما).
Lord Agni (in discourse to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Cultivating dignity and propriety in poverty; reflecting on karmic causality to avoid envy, harshness, or disrespect while seeking support.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Propriety in Begging and Reflection on Karma-gati","lookup_keywords":["pāṇipātra","pātra-apātra","ācāra","karma-doṣa","gati"],"quick_summary":"Even with extreme austerity (hand as bowl), one must maintain proper conduct and contemplate that people’s fortunes arise from their own karmic faults/merits."}
Concept: Ācāra is independent of material conditions; karmic outcomes (gati) are rooted in one’s own action-faults, so one should avoid blame and maintain decorum.
Application: Practice non-resentment and respectful speech; choose worthy households/recipients; use hardship as a prompt for self-examination rather than accusation.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Achara (Conduct, charity, and karmic consequences)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mendicant with empty hands held as a bowl, standing respectfully before a householder, while a subtle vignette suggests contemplation of karmic destinies.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: ascetic with cupped palms, composed face; householder offering alms; background motifs of a wheel symbolizing karma; bold outlines and earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: dignified ascetic in center, donors to one side, gold work on borders and vessels; symbolic karma-wheel medallion above, emphasizing moral teaching.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic composition with two panels—(1) hand-as-bowl propriety, (2) seated reflection on karma-gati; fine lines, soft colors, clear labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate courtyard scene, ascetic receiving alms with restraint; marginalia showing contrasting fates of people (wealth/poverty) as karma outcomes; high detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भवेद्वापि = भवेत् + वा + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Nīti/ācāra passages on karma-phala and sadācāra (near 161.12)
FAQs
It teaches āchāra in dāna: maintain proper conduct and discernment regarding the pātra (worthy recipient), even under personal hardship.
Alongside ritual and cosmological topics, it includes practical dharma guidance—ethics of charity, social behavior, and karmaphala—showing the text’s wide-ranging, handbook-like scope.
It links one’s life-conditions and future destiny to karma-doṣa, encouraging humility, ethical giving, and self-accountability as means to avoid negative karmic outcomes.