Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
रुक्कृतिः शोनितकृतिः पैशुन्यकरणन्तथा ब्रह्मप्रकाशनं ज्ञानमिति ञ यथा नागपदे ऽन्यानीति क पदगामिनामिति ख , ज च हितस्यातिनिषेधश् च मर्मोद्घाटनमेव च
rukkṛtiḥ śonitakṛtiḥ paiśunyakaraṇantathā brahmaprakāśanaṃ jñānamiti ña yathā nāgapade 'nyānīti ka padagāmināmiti kha , ja ca hitasyātiniṣedhaś ca marmodghāṭanameva ca
Causar dolor, causar derramamiento de sangre y entregarse a la calumnia; asimismo, divulgar el conocimiento sagrado relativo al Brahman: todo ello debe entenderse como actos censurables. Además, la falta de conducir a otros por un camino errado, y la de quienes siguen tal senda; y también la prohibición excesiva incluso de lo beneficioso, y el mismo acto de revelar los secretos vitales (marmas) de otra persona.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethical-legal screening of harmful acts in governance, adjudication, and interpersonal conduct; guidance for counselors and judges on what counts as culpable injury, betrayal, and endangerment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nindya-karmani (Blameworthy acts): injury, slander, misguidance, over-prohibition, marma-exposure","lookup_keywords":["nindya-karma","paishunya","marmodghatana","hitasyatinishedha","apamarga-nayana"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates actions treated as ethically blameworthy: inflicting pain/bloodshed, slander, divulging sacred/confidential knowledge, misleading others, excessive restriction even of beneficial acts, and exposing another’s vital secrets (marmas)."}
Concept: Ahimsa and social trust: harm, slander, betrayal of sacred/confidential knowledge, and endangerment of others are adharma.
Application: In policy and daily life: minimize harm, avoid defamatory speech, keep entrusted knowledge confidential, and do not impose blanket bans that obstruct genuine welfare.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Nyaya-shastra (Ethics, Law, and Social Conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court scene where a judge/counselor lists censurable acts: violence, slander, betrayal of sacred knowledge, misleading followers, and exposing vital secrets; symbolic depiction of ‘marmas’ as guarded points on the body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, a dharmic king in sabha with a learned minister holding palm-leaf manuscript, gestures of prohibition toward scenes of slander and violence, subtle anatomical marma marks on a warrior figure, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed dharma-king seated on throne, minister presenting a list-scroll of nindya karmas, gold embellishments on court pillars, small vignettes showing slander and bloodshed being restrained","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional tableau: labeled icons for pain, bloodshed, paishunya, secret disclosure, misguidance, over-prohibition, and marma-exposure; calm court setting with didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court assembly, a qazi-like judge and pandit, marginal vignettes of a whispering slanderer, a wounded man, and a guarded warrior’s vital points, rich textiles and architectural depth"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: rukkṛtiḥ→ruk-kṛtiḥ; paiśunyakaraṇantathā→paiśunya-karaṇam tathā; brahmaprakāśanaṃ→brahma-prakāśanam; nāgapade 'nyāni→nāga-pade anyāni; hitasyātiniṣedhaḥ→hitasya ati-niṣedhaḥ; mर्मोद्घाटनमेव→marma-udghāṭanam eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma sections on danda-niti and sadachara; Agni Purana Dhanurveda/marma-related discussions (where vital points are taught)
FAQs
It classifies specific harmful actions—violence, slander, divulging sacred knowledge, misguiding others, over-restricting beneficial acts, and exposing vulnerabilities—as censurable conduct to be avoided in rajadharma and ethical discipline.
Beyond ritual topics, the Agni Purana also systematizes social ethics and jurisprudential categories of wrongdoing, showing its coverage of governance, moral psychology, and norms of speech and secrecy.
Avoiding these acts reduces harmful karma rooted in hiṃsā (injury) and vācika-doṣa (faults of speech), supporting purity of conduct, social harmony, and fitness for higher religious practice.