Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
फलैधःकुसुमस्तेयमधैर् यञ्च मलावहं
phalaidhaḥkusumasteyamadhair yañca malāvahaṃ
سرقةُ الثمار والحطب والزهور—وكلُّ ما يأخذه غيرُ الأمين—تجلبُ الدَّنَسَ (عدم الطهارة).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Agni Purāṇa’s primary narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Defines minor thefts (fruits, firewood, flowers) and dishonest taking as impurity-causing, guiding everyday ethics around property and resource use.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Phala-idhah-kusuma-steya (theft of fruits, firewood, flowers) as mala-āvaha","lookup_keywords":["steya","phala-steya","idhah-steya","kusuma-steya","mala-āvaha"],"quick_summary":"Even seemingly small thefts—taking fruits, firewood, or flowers—are treated as defiling; the rule discourages petty dishonesty and supports restitution/expiation norms."}
Concept: Asteya (non-stealing) applies to minor goods; moral impurity arises from dishonest appropriation regardless of value.
Application: Encourages permission-seeking, fair exchange, and restitution; relevant for temple-groves, village commons, and household boundaries.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dāna–Prāyaścitta (Ethics, theft-prohibitions, and impurity-causing acts)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person stealthily taking fruits, firewood, and flowers from an orchard/forest/temple garden; a dharma-teacher indicates that even small theft causes mala (defilement).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative strip: orchard with fruit, bundle of firewood, temple garden flowers; a figure taking them secretly; rishi teaching in a corner; bold traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central moral teacher with gold halo, side scenes of fruit theft and flower plucking from a sacred grove, ornate gold borders, emphasis on ethical warning.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional vignettes: fruit basket, firewood bundle, flower garland; a hand taking without consent marked as steya; fine lines and soft tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed garden scene with flowering plants and fruit trees, a thief figure, a scholar/judge observing, realistic textures and architecture, moral-legal narrative."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: phalaidhaḥkusumasteyam = phala-idhaḥ-kusuma-steyam; yañca = yat ca; malāvaham = mala-āvaham. ‘adhair’ appears as a sandhi/orthographic variant of ‘adhaḥ’; exact reading may vary by edition.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (pāpa/aśauca catalog); Agni Purana 170 (prāyaścitta for theft)
FAQs
It classifies even seemingly minor thefts (fruits, fuel, flowers—often connected with daily worship and offerings) as acts that generate ritual/ethical impurity, guiding correct conduct for householders and temple contexts.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma-encyclopedia function by giving practical norms of behavior—bridging social law (theft), religious practice (items used in pūjā and homa), and the doctrine of purity/impurity.
The teaching is that dishonest appropriation produces mala (defilement) and negative karma; avoiding such acts preserves purity and supports merit (puṇya) in both ritual life and daily conduct.