Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 2

Vānaprastha-āśrama

The Forest-Dweller Stage of Life

Devanagari script

वने वासः पयोमूलनीवारफलवृत्तिता प्रतिग्रहनिवृत्तिश् च त्रिःस्नानं ब्रह्मचारिता

Transliteration

vane vāsaḥ payomūlanīvāraphalavṛttitā pratigrahanivṛttiś ca triḥsnānaṃ brahmacāritā

Translation

Im Wald wohnen; sich von Milch, Wurzeln, Wildreis (nīvāra) und Früchten nähren; keine Gaben annehmen; dreimal täglich baden; und Brahmacarya wahren — dies sind die vorgeschriebenen Übungen.

Word by Word

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• वासः: dwelling
• वासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पयः-मूल-नीवार-फल-वृत्तिता: living on milk, roots, wild rice, and fruits
• पयः-मूल-नीवार-फल-वृत्तिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + नीवार (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + ता (प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—पयःमूलनीवारफलैः वृत्तिता (subsistence)

• प्रतिग्रह-निवृत्तिः: refraining from accepting gifts
• प्रतिग्रह-निवृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + निवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—प्रतिग्रहस्य निवृत्तिः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• त्रिः-स्नानम्: bathing thrice
• त्रिः-स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय/संख्या) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः—त्रिः स्नानम् (thrice-bathing)

• ब्रह्मचारिता: celibate conduct
• ब्रह्मचारिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Agni (teaching the āśrama-dharma portion in the Agni Purana)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"A practical code for vānaprastha conduct: forest residence, regulated foraging/diet, non-acceptance of gifts, thrice-daily bathing, and celibacy—forming a daily regimen.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vānaprastha-niyama (Diet, Bathing, Non-acceptance, Celibacy)","lookup_keywords":["payo","mūla","nīvāra","trih-snāna","brahmacarya"],"quick_summary":"The forest-dweller lives on simple forest foods (milk, roots, wild rice, fruits), avoids gift-taking, bathes thrice daily, and maintains celibacy—disciplining senses and dependence."}

Ayurveda Layer

Dosha: Tridosha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niyama as a means to weaken attachment: controlled diet, bodily discipline, and celibacy stabilize mind for higher pursuit.

Application: Design a daily schedule: simple food procurement, fixed bathing times, strict boundaries on receiving/possessing, and brahmacarya as a vow.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Dharma-śāstra / Āśrama-dharma (Rules of conduct for the four āśramas)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: Śānta

Secondary Rasa: Vīra (self-control)

Geographic Context

Type: Sacred landscape

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vānaprastha in a forest collects roots and fruits, cooks nīvāra, keeps a small milk vessel; nearby a river for thrice-daily bathing; a gesture of refusal toward offered gifts; calm celibate demeanor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative panels: foraging roots/fruits, cooking nīvāra, bathing in a river thrice (three small vignettes), refusing gifts; stylized forest and water motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central ascetic with simple food offerings (milk, fruits) and a river motif; gold detailing on vessels and border; emphasis on purity and restraint.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional layout showing the regimen items (milk, roots, nīvāra, fruits) and ‘triḥ-snāna’ as three river dips; clean, diagram-like clarity with soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest scene with a stream; ascetic gathering food and bathing; a villager offering gifts being politely declined; fine naturalistic rendering."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिःस्नानं = त्रिः + स्नानम् (अव्ययीभाव).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 160.1 (vānaprastha marks); Agni Purana 159 (śauca—purity underpinning snāna and restraint)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacarya
• Vānaprastha
• Nīvāra

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It lays down āśrama-dharma observances: forest residence, regulated diet (milk, roots, nīvāra, fruits), non-acceptance of gifts (pratigraha-nivṛtti), thrice-daily bathing, and brahmacarya as a practical discipline.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogs applied norms of life—here, a concise code for ascetic/forest-stage living—showing its wide coverage of law, ethics, and daily practice.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

These restraints cultivate purity (through triḥ-snāna), non-attachment (through avoiding gifts), and self-control (through brahmacarya), supporting tapas and reducing karmic entanglement.