Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 20
Ācāra
Right Conduct
भद्रं भद्रमिति ब्रूयान्नानिष्टं कीर्तयेत् क्वचित् पालाशमासनं वर्ज्यं देवादिच्छायया व्रजेत्
bhadraṃ bhadramiti brūyānnāniṣṭaṃ kīrtayet kvacit pālāśamāsanaṃ varjyaṃ devādicchāyayā vrajet
‘ভদ্রং, ভদ্রং’ বলে কেবল মঙ্গলবচন উচ্চারণ করবে; কখনও অমঙ্গল কথা উল্লেখ করবে না। পলাশ-কাঠের আসন বর্জনীয়; দেবতা প্রভৃতির ছায়ার মধ্য দিয়ে চলবে না।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ritual and everyday auspicious speech discipline; avoid inauspicious utterances and certain seats/paths considered ritually improper during worship contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pūjā-Ācāra: Auspicious Speech, Avoiding Inauspicious Mention, Palāśa Seat Prohibition, and Avoiding Deity-Shadow","lookup_keywords":["bhadra-bhadra","aniṣṭa-kīrtana","palāśa-āsana","deva-chāyā","pūjā-ācāra"],"quick_summary":"Maintain auspicious speech (repeat ‘bhadra’), avoid speaking of inauspicious things, avoid sitting on palāśa-wood seats in this context, and do not pass through the shadow of a deity/image—rules aimed at ritual propriety."}
Alamkara Type: Abhyāsa (repetition: ‘bhadram bhadram’)
Concept: Śabda-śuddhi and maṅgala: speech and bodily movement are part of worship-discipline; reverence extends to spatial cues (shadow, seating).
Application: In worship and sacred settings, speak positively, avoid ominous talk, choose ritually acceptable seating, and move respectfully around images and sanctified spaces.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Achara (Ritual Conduct and Auspicious Etiquette)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper in a temple courtyard repeats ‘bhadra bhadra’ with folded hands, avoids ominous speech, refuses a palāśa-wood seat, and carefully steps aside to avoid crossing the deity’s shadow cast by a lamp/sunlight near the shrine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple courtyard with shrine and lamp, devotee with añjali mudrā uttering ‘bhadra’, a palāśa seat shown crossed out symbolically, strong shadow of deity/image on floor avoided by the devotee, rich earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, deity in shrine with gold work, devotee seated on proper āsana (not palāśa), inscription-like ‘bhadra bhadra’, dramatic shadow motif on floor, ornate temple pillars.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional depiction of temple etiquette: arrows showing path avoiding deity-shadow, labeled āsanas with palāśa marked ‘avoid’, soft colors and precise lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple-like pavilion with sunlight casting a sharp shadow from an idol, devotee stepping around it, attendants holding ritual items, fine architectural detailing and patterned floor."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brūyānnāniṣṭaṃ = brūyāt + na + aniṣṭam; pālāśamāsanaṃ = pālāśam + āsanam; devādicchāyayā = deva-ādi-chāyayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana (pūjā-vidhi sections elsewhere); Agni Purana 155 (ācāra maxims)
FAQs
It teaches achara for worship and daily conduct: speak only auspicious words, avoid uttering inauspicious talk, avoid sitting on a palāśa-wood seat, and avoid moving through the shadow associated with deity images and similar sacred presences.
Alongside theology and rites, the Agni Purana preserves practical micro-rules of conduct—speech-ethics, ritual seating norms, and temple etiquette—showing how Purāṇic knowledge extends into everyday behavioral codes.
Auspicious speech and careful movement around sacred objects are treated as purity-preserving disciplines; avoiding अशुभ (inauspiciousness) supports mental sattva, prevents ritual faults (doṣa), and safeguards the merit (puṇya) of worship.