Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
यस्माद्दृष्टमदा नारी तस्मात्तान्नावलोकयेत् यद्वा तद्वापरद्रव्यमपहृत्य बलान्नरः
yasmāddṛṣṭamadā nārī tasmāttānnāvalokayet yadvā tadvāparadravyamapahṛtya balānnaraḥ
Puisqu’une femme s’enivre d’orgueil (ou de passion) lorsqu’on la regarde, qu’on ne la fixe donc pas du regard. De même, un homme ne doit pas, par la force, s’emparer du bien d’autrui, quel qu’il soit.
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Codify restraint in social interaction and prohibit theft/forcible seizure; supports personal ethics and kingly enforcement of property rights and public order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Restraint of gaze and prohibition of forcible taking (aparadravya-haraṇa)","lookup_keywords":["nīti","aparadravya","stealing","social restraint","rājadharma"],"quick_summary":"The verse advises guarding the senses to prevent social disorder and explicitly forbids taking another’s property by force. It aligns personal conduct with legal-ethical norms."}
Concept: Dama (sense-control) and asteya (non-stealing) are pillars of social dharma; unchecked desire leads to coercion and adharma.
Application: Practice respectful boundaries; uphold property rights; in governance, punish coercive appropriation and protect the vulnerable.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Ethics, Social Conduct, and Prohibitions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A moral-legal scene split in two: on one side a man averts his gaze in restraint; on the other a would-be thief forcibly grabbing goods is stopped by a guard or judge, symbolizing prohibition of coercive taking.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel didactic composition: restrained figure with downcast eyes; second panel shows a thief seized by royal attendants, stylized courtroom elements, bold contours and temple-wall symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rājā seated in judgment with gold halo, thief restrained by guards, confiscated goods displayed; side vignette of a disciplined man averting gaze, rich gold ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ethics tableau: clear gestures—averted gaze, open palm of refusal, judge indicating law; fine linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bazaar scene with attempted snatching stopped by officials, and a separate vignette of modest conduct; detailed textiles, architecture, and expressive faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यस्माद्दृष्टमदा = यस्मात् + दृष्टमदा; तस्मात्तान्नावलोकयेत् = तस्मात् + तान् + न + अवलोकयेत्; तद्वापरद्रव्यमपहृत्य = तद्वा + पर-द्रव्यम् + अपहृत्य; बलान्नरः = बलात् + नरः
Related Themes: Agni Purana: rājadharma/nīti chapters on theft, punishment, and social order; Agni Purana: ācāra rules on sense-restraint
FAQs
It imparts nīti-vidyā (practical ethics): restraint of the senses (especially the gaze) and a clear prohibition against forcibly taking another’s property.
Alongside ritual, cosmology, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves applied governance and ethics (rajadharma/nīti), giving concrete behavioral rules that support social order.
Sense-restraint and non-appropriation reduce desire-driven harm; avoiding coercion and theft aligns with dharma and prevents negative karma arising from violence, exploitation, and social disruption.