Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 36
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
असच्छास्त्राधिगमनं दौःशील्यं व्यसनक्रिया धान्यकुप्यपशुस्तेयं मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणं
asacchāstrādhigamanaṃ dauḥśīlyaṃ vyasanakriyā dhānyakupyapaśusteyaṃ madyapastrīniṣevaṇaṃ
Falsche oder trügerische Lehrschriften (asat-śāstra) zu studieren, lasterhaftes Verhalten, das Betreiben süchtiger Laster, der Diebstahl von Getreide, Wertgegenständen oder Vieh, das Trinken von Rauschmitteln und der Umgang mit der Frau eines anderen — dies alles zählt zu verderblichen Vergehen.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Moral-legal identification of socially destructive behaviors: fraudulent learning, vice-addiction, property theft, intoxication, and adultery; supports governance, discipline, and personal reform.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ruinous misdeeds: false śāstra, vice, theft, intoxication, and adultery","lookup_keywords":["asacchāstra","vyasana","steya","madya-pāna","parastrī-niṣevaṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse warns that deceptive doctrines, addictive pursuits, theft (grain/valuables/cattle), drinking, and adultery corrode character and society and are to be treated as serious misconduct."}
Concept: Right knowledge and right conduct are inseparable; false learning and uncontrolled senses (vyasana, madya, adultery) lead to adharma and social harm.
Application: Personal governance: verify teachers/texts, avoid intoxicants and vice-circles, maintain fidelity; state governance: penalize theft and regulate intoxicants.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Niti-shastra (Ethics, Criminal Acts, and Social Conduct)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher rejecting a deceitful manuscript; gamblers/drinkers in a vice den; a cattle thief and grain thief apprehended; a man drinking liquor; an illicit meeting exposed by elders.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic moral tableau: rishi points away from a dark scroll labeled false śāstra; vivid scenes of dice, liquor, theft of cattle, and an illicit tryst; strong outlines and symbolic color contrasts.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold: central dharma-judge/ācārya; surrounding gold-framed vignettes of theft, drinking, and adultery; ornate jewelry and architectural arches.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional moral panels: false text vs true text, vyasana scenes, theft types (grain/valuables/cattle), madya-pāna, parastrī-niṣevaṇa; precise objects and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling city scenes: tavern, gambling, cattle theft at night, court inquiry into adultery; refined detailing, perspective architecture, expressive faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"stern","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: असच्छास्त्राधिगमनं→असत्+शास्त्र+अधिगमनम्; धान्यकुप्यपशुस्तेयं→धान्य+कुप्य+पशु+स्तेयम्; मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणं→मद्यप+स्त्री+निषेवणम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Nīti on vyasana and kingly discipline; Agni Purana: prāyaścitta for madya and strī-saṅga
FAQs
It imparts niti/rajadharma knowledge by enumerating actionable categories of misconduct (false teachings, vice-addictions, theft, intoxication, adultery) that a person and a ruler should restrain and regulate.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium of governance and social ethics; this verse catalogs moral and criminal vices relevant to law, public order, and personal discipline.
These acts are presented as destructive vices that generate demerit (pāpa), degrade character, and obstruct dharma—thereby harming both worldly stability and spiritual progress.