Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 54
वाक्पारुष्यादिप्रकरणम्
The Topic of Verbal Abuse and Related Offences
जिह्मं त्यजेयुर्निर्लोभमशक्तो ऽन्येन कारयेत् अनेन विधिराख्यात ऋत्विक्कर्षकर्मिणां
jihmaṃ tyajeyurnirlobhamaśakto 'nyena kārayet anena vidhirākhyāta ṛtvikkarṣakarmiṇāṃ
ينبغي لهم أن يتركوا السلوك المعوجّ (غير الأمين) وأن يثبتوا على عدم الطمع. ومن عجز فليُجرِ العمل على يد غيره. وبهذا قد بُيِّنَت القاعدة الصحيحة للإجراء للكهنة المُقيمين للشعائر ولمن يقومون بخدمة الطقس.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ethical and procedural norms for priests/ritual functionaries: integrity, non-greed, and delegation when incapable to prevent ritual fault and social harm.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ethics and delegation rules for ṛtvij and ritual workers","lookup_keywords":["ऋत्विक्","कर्मिण","निर्लोभ","जिह्माचार","अन्येन कारयेत्"],"quick_summary":"Ritual officiants must avoid crookedness and greed; if unable to perform, they should have the rite executed by a competent substitute—establishing procedural propriety for ritual administration."}
Concept: अधिकार and शुद्धाचार: competence and integrity are prerequisites for ritual authority; greed and deceit corrupt sacred action.
Application: Ritual governance: appoint qualified priests, enforce codes of conduct, allow substitution with accountability to maintain rite validity and public trust.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Ritual Administration (Ritvik duties and ethical conduct in rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yajña setting where an officiating priest rejects bribes, performs with straight posture; an elderly/ill priest appoints a competent substitute; assistants arrange ladles and offerings in orderly fashion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style; a fire-altar scene with ṛtvij in white garments, calm faces; one priest gesturing ‘no’ to a pouch of coins; another indicating a substitute priest; stylized flames and ritual vessels.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold; central sacred fire with ornate arch; dignified priest with halo-like aura of purity; a substitute priest receiving a ladle; gold embossing on vessels and borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine lines; instructional depiction of ritual roles—main ṛtvij, substitute, assistants—labeled implements (sruk, sruva), orderly altar geometry; emphasis on procedure.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; a patron’s courtyard yajña with detailed textiles and utensils; a priest politely refusing gifts; a senior priest appointing another; attendants and scribes observing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tyajeyur = tyajeyuḥ; nirlobhamaśakto = nirlobham+aśaktaḥ; 'aśakto 'nyena' = aśaktaḥ+anyena; vidhirākhyāta = vidhiḥ+ākhyātaḥ; ṛtvikkarṣakarmiṇām = ṛtvik+karṣa+karmiṇām (dvandva).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 257 (sections on rajadharma and regulation of social/ritual functionaries)
FAQs
It prescribes professional ethics for ṛtviks and ritual workers: avoid deceit and greed, and if unable to perform a rite-related duty, delegate it properly to a competent substitute.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana codifies practical governance of religious life—setting procedural and ethical norms for ritual specialists—showing its coverage of social regulation and institutional ritual practice.
Honesty and non-avarice protect the purity (śuddhi) of ritual action; proper delegation prevents flawed performance, thereby safeguarding the intended merit (puṇya) and avoiding ritual fault (doṣa).