Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 15
Ācāra
Right Conduct
न पश्येच्चार्कमुद्यन्तन्नास्तं यान्तं न चाम्भसि नेक्षेन्नग्नां स्त्रियं कूपं शूनास्थानमघौघिनं
na paśyeccārkamudyantannāstaṃ yāntaṃ na cāmbhasi nekṣennagnāṃ striyaṃ kūpaṃ śūnāsthānamaghaughinaṃ
日の出の太陽も、日の入りの太陽も見つめてはならず、水に映る太陽も見てはならない。また裸の女、井戸、荒れた無人の場所、あるいは罪悪の群れを凝視してはならない。
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard narrative frame of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Behavioral prohibitions: avoid staring at sun at liminal times and its reflection; avoid inauspicious/unsafe sights and places.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Darśana-niṣedha: sunrise/sunset, water-reflection, and inauspicious sights","lookup_keywords":["sūryodaya","sūryāsta","jalapratibimba","darśana-niṣedha","śūnya-sthāna"],"quick_summary":"Do not gaze at the sun at rise/set or in water reflection; avoid gazing at nudity, wells, deserted places, and scenes associated with evil—combining safety, modesty, and auspiciousness."}
Concept: Indriya-nigraha (sense restraint) and maṅgala-ācāra (auspicious conduct) as supports for purity and safety.
Application: Practice mindful seeing; avoid harmful/tempting/inauspicious stimuli and unsafe environments.
Khanda Section: Sadachara & Shauca-Niyama (Codes of Conduct and Purity Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person averts gaze from the rising/setting sun; a water surface reflects sunlight; nearby are symbolic warnings: a well, a deserted spot, and a shadowy ‘mass of evil’ motif; emphasis on restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; dramatic red-orange sun at horizon; figure with hand raised to avert gaze; stylized well and empty grove; dark swirling motif for agha; balanced, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting; radiant sun with gold halo; devotee turning away; reflective water rendered with gold highlights; symbolic icons (well, deserted place) arranged like a moral diagram.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; instructional panel showing ‘do not’ scenes in compartments: sunrise gaze, sunset gaze, sun in water, looking into well, entering deserted place; fine lines and soft washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; riverbank at dusk with sun reflection; figure averting eyes; detailed well and abandoned ruin in background; subtle ominous figures representing ‘agha’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Marwa","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पश्येच्चार्कम् = पश्येत् + च + अर्कम्; अर्कमुद्यन्तम् = अर्कम् + उद्यन्तम्; उद्यन्तन्नास्तम् = उद्यन्तम् + न + अस्तम्; नेक्षेत् = न + ईक्षेत्; शूनास्थानम् = शून + स्थानम्; स्थानमघौघिनम् = स्थानम् + अघौघिनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sandhyā-vidhi and daily conduct rules; Agni Purana: śauca-niyama lists
FAQs
It prescribes sadācāra (disciplinary conduct): avoid gazing at ritually or psychologically inauspicious sights—especially the sun at liminal times (rise/set) and its reflection in water—along with other sights considered destabilizing or impure for a disciplined life.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa compiles practical dharma: daily-life rules, purity norms, and behavioral restraints. This verse is a concise example of its handbook-like guidance on conduct, auspiciousness, and self-regulation.
The instruction supports śauca (inner/outer purity) and steadiness of mind; avoiding inauspicious or morally corrupting sights is presented as protective of one’s dharmic merit and conducive to spiritual discipline.