Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 2
Ācāra
Right Conduct
रातौ च दक्षिणे कुर्यादुभे सन्ध्ये यथा दिवा न मार्गादौ जले वीप्यां सतृणायां सदाचरेत्
rātau ca dakṣiṇe kuryādubhe sandhye yathā divā na mārgādau jale vīpyāṃ satṛṇāyāṃ sadācaret
Bei Nacht soll man beide Dämmerungsriten (sandhyā) nach Süden gewandt vollziehen, ebenso wie am Tage. Niemals soll man sie am Anfang eines Weges, im Wasser, auf einem gepflügten/aufbereiteten Erdstreifen oder auf grasigem Boden verrichten; vielmehr soll man sich stets geziemend verhalten.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Sandhyā-vandana orientation and selection of a ritually proper place at night; avoidance of impure/unstable locations during nitya-karman.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rātri-sandhyā: dik-niyama and deśa-niṣedha (place prohibitions)","lookup_keywords":["rātri-sandhyā","dakṣiṇābhimukha","deśa-niṣedha","mārga-ādi","ācāra"],"quick_summary":"At night, perform both sandhyās facing south. Do not perform sandhyā at road-beginnings, in water, on freshly tilled strips, or on grass; choose a clean, stable, proper spot."}
Concept: Ācāra (right conduct) safeguards the efficacy of nitya-karma; deśa-kāla-niyama is integral to ritual purity.
Application: Establish a consistent, clean sandhyā spot; avoid liminal/impure places that disrupt attention and śauca.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Sandhya-vandana & Achara-dharma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder at dusk/night performing sandhyā facing south, with a clean platform; nearby are avoided spots—road junction, water edge, ploughed strip, and grassy patch—shown as unsuitable.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, a brahmin performing sandhyā facing south with añjali and kamaṇḍalu, clear depiction of prohibited places (road-beginning, water, tilled earth, grass) as separate vignettes, traditional ornamentation, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights, central figure seated on a small clean pedestal facing south performing sandhyā, ornate border, symbolic icons for prohibited places around (road marker, rippling water, plough lines, grass tufts), rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional layout: labeled panels showing correct south-facing posture at night and four prohibited locations, soft shading, minimal background, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night-time courtyard with lamp glow, figure performing sandhyā oriented south, detailed landscape margins showing roadhead, canal/pond, freshly ploughed field strip, grassy verge, fine textiles and architectural details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्यादुभे = कुर्यात् + उभे; मार्गादौ = मार्ग + आदौ; ततो 'पि not in this verse; सतृणायाम् analyzed as स-तृणायाम् (सतृणायाम्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on sandhyā, ācamana, śauca, snāna-niyama (same khanda context)
FAQs
It specifies directional and location-based rules for Sandhyā rites: at night both Sandhyās are to be performed facing south, and the rite should not be done on roadsides, in water, on ploughed/tilled ground, or on grassy ground.
It preserves practical ritual-technical details of daily observance (ācāra) alongside broader theology—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied dharma such as purity rules, correct ritual settings, and procedural discipline.
By performing Sandhyā with correct orientation and in a ritually proper place, one avoids doṣa (ritual fault) and maintains śauca (purity), supporting the merit and purificatory efficacy traditionally attributed to the twilight observances.