Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 6
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
कर्मारस्य निषादस्य चेलनिर्णेजकस्य च मिथ्याप्रव्रजितस्यान्नम्पुंश् चल्यास्तैलिकस्य च
karmārasya niṣādasya celanirṇejakasya ca mithyāpravrajitasyānnampuṃś calyāstailikasya ca
وكذلك يُجتَنَبُ طعامُ الحدّاد، وطعامُ الـNiṣāda (الصيّاد/ساكن الغابة)، وطعامُ منظّف الثياب، وطعامُ المتنسّك الكاذب، وطعامُ بائع الطعام أو الطاهي المتكسّب، وطعامُ الخصيّ، وطعامُ المرأة المخادعة، وطعامُ بائع الزيت أيضًا.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Household and civic purity management: identifying censured occupations and imposture (false renunciant) affecting eligibility for commensality and acceptance of cooked food.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Anna-śuddhi: Censured occupations and impostors (karmāra, niṣāda, washerman, false renunciant, cook/food-seller, eunuch, cheating woman, oilman)","lookup_keywords":["karmāra","niṣāda","mithyāpravrajita","tailika","anna-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Food from certain stigmatized occupations and deceptive persons is to be avoided; the rule functions as a social-ritual filter for maintaining śuddhi in domestic and ceremonial life."}
Concept: Ācāra depends on the perceived purity of livelihood (ājīvikā-śuddhi) and truthfulness of religious identity; imposture undermines dharma.
Application: For ritual hosts and recipients: verify livelihood and authenticity (especially of renunciants); keep food-giving aligned with dharmic trust networks.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Dharma-shastra (Social law: prohibited or censured occupations and imposture)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Didactic montage: blacksmith at forge, Niṣāda hunter with bow in forest, washerman at river, false renunciant with deceptive garb, oilman pressing sesame, and a cook/food-seller—while a teacher warns against accepting their food.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative: forge with glowing coals, forest hunter, river washing scene, faux-sannyāsin with hidden coins, oil-press with bull, marketplace cook; central guru figure with palm-leaf text; traditional floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central teacher with gold halo; surrounding occupational emblems rendered iconically (anvil, bow, washing stone, oil press, cooking pot); heavy gold ornamentation and temple arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional layout with labeled figures and tools; soft colors, precise detailing of implements (anvil, oil press, cooking vessels).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling town-and-forest vignettes with fine detail; jurist/teacher in the foreground; artisans and workers depicted in realistic attire and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चेलनिर्णेजकस्य = चेल + निर्णेजकस्य; मिथ्याप्रव्रजितस्य = मिथ्या + प्रव्रजितस्य; मिथ्याप्रव्रजितस्यान्नम् = ... + अन्नम्; 'अन्नम्पुंश् चल्याः' पाठे सन्धि/पाठभेदः—अत्र अन्नम् + पुंस् इति पृथक्कृतम्, 'चल्याः' रूपे संशयः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (apātra/anna-śuddhi); Agni Purana ācāra sections on varṇa/āśrama conduct
FAQs
It enumerates categories of persons/occupations treated as socially censured in dharma-legal contexts, guiding whom one should avoid in certain dealings (e.g., trust, ritual association, or formal transactions) according to rajadharma norms.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma-shastra material—social classifications, ethics, and governance-related norms—showing its wide coverage of law and public conduct alongside ritual and theology.
The verse frames discernment in association and transactions as a dharmic safeguard: avoiding hypocrisy, deceit, and socially disapproved conduct is presented as supporting purity, trustworthiness, and merit (puṇya) in one’s life and ritual standing.