Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 21
Ācāra
Right Conduct
न मध्ये पूज्ययोर्यायात् नोच्छिष्टस्तारकादिदृक् नद्यान्नान्यां नदीं ब्रूयान्न कण्डूयेद् द्विहस्तकं
na madhye pūjyayoryāyāt nocchiṣṭastārakādidṛk nadyānnānyāṃ nadīṃ brūyānna kaṇḍūyed dvihastakaṃ
One should not pass between two venerable persons. While in the state of having eaten (and thus ritually impure), one should not look at stars and the like. Having reached a river, one should not speak of another river; and one should not scratch oneself with both hands.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Temple/social etiquette and purity discipline: respect elders/objects of reverence, avoid certain acts in post-meal impurity, maintain verbal restraint at sacred waters, and observe modest bodily conduct.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ācāra Rules: Not Passing Between the Venerable, Post-Meal Restraints, River-Respect, and Modest Bodily Conduct","lookup_keywords":["pūjya-madhya-gamana","ucchiṣṭa","tārakā-darśana","nadī-maryādā","kandūyana"],"quick_summary":"Do not pass between two venerable persons; avoid star-gazing while ucchiṣṭa (post-meal impurity); upon reaching a river, do not speak of another river; and avoid scratching with both hands—rules for reverence, purity, and restraint."}
Alamkara Type: Parisaṅkhyā (rule-by-exclusion listing of don’ts)
Concept: Maryādā (respectful boundaries) in body, speech, and movement—purity and reverence are enacted through small restraints.
Application: In temples/assemblies, do not cut between elders/teachers; observe post-meal purity rules before sacred acts; at a river, focus reverently on that tirtha; maintain modest bodily behavior.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Achara-dharma (Rules of conduct and ritual etiquette)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two venerable elders stand facing each other while a younger person respectfully walks around rather than between them; a person after eating refrains from looking up at stars; at a riverbank, a devotee offers respect without comparing other rivers; a figure restrains from scratching with both hands.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, riverbank tīrtha scene with devotee in reverent posture, elders depicted with dignified stance, the younger person circling around them, night sky with stars shown but the ucchiṣṭa person looking down, bold outlines and symbolic gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-accented river goddess motif implied by sacred river, devotee offering añjali, elders with halos of respect, decorative borders, clear separation showing ‘do not pass between’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional multi-panel: (1) avoid passing between pūjyas, (2) avoid star-gazing when ucchiṣṭa, (3) river etiquette, (4) avoid scratching with both hands; labeled, precise and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined riverside scene with attendants, elders in conversation, a youth taking a respectful detour, twilight sky with stars, intricate landscape and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūjyayoryāyāt = pūjyayoḥ + yāyāt; nocchiṣṭastārakādidṛk = na + ucchiṣṭaḥ + tārakā-ādi-dṛk; nadyānnānyāṃ = nadyāt + na + anyām; brūyānna = brūyāt + na; kaṇḍūyed = kaṇḍūyet (final sandhi in recitation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 155 (ācāra and pūjā conduct)
FAQs
It teaches āhnika-ācāra: etiquette toward revered persons, purity-awareness after eating (ucchiṣṭa), and restrained behavior in sacred contexts (e.g., at a river), along with bodily decorum.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharma—minute social and purity regulations—showing how Purāṇas function as comprehensive manuals for daily religious life.
These restraints cultivate reverence, śauca (purity), and self-control; such disciplined conduct is traditionally held to protect merit (puṇya) and reduce ritual faults (doṣa) in daily observances.