Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3
Vānaprastha-āśrama
The Forest-Dweller Stage of Life
देवातिथीनां पूजा च धर्मो ऽयं वनवासिनः औषधादीति क यतीनान्तु इति ङ गृही ह्य् अपत्यापत्यञ्च दृष्ट्वारण्यं समाश्रयेत्
devātithīnāṃ pūjā ca dharmo 'yaṃ vanavāsinaḥ auṣadhādīti ka yatīnāntu iti ṅa gṛhī hy apatyāpatyañca dṛṣṭvāraṇyaṃ samāśrayet
林住者の務めはこれである――神々を供養し、来客をもてなすこと。ヤティにとっては、薬草などによって生を支えることが定めである。家住者は、子と孫が整ったのを見届けて後、林に身を寄せるべきである。
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of the Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Householder-to-forest transition ethics: maintain deva-pūjā and atithi-satkāra in vānaprastha; ascetics subsist on herbs; retire only after dependents are settled—supporting social stability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Atithi-dharma and Retirement to the Forest after Settling Dependents","lookup_keywords":["atithi-pūjā","deva-pūjā","auṣadhi-āhāra","gṛhastha-nivṛtti","vānaprastha"],"quick_summary":"Forest-dwellers must worship gods and honor guests; ascetics live on herbs; a householder should enter forest-life only after children and grandchildren are established—balancing renunciation with responsibility."}
Concept: Renunciation is not escapism: one must fulfill obligations to dependents and uphold hospitality and worship even in austerity.
Application: Before retirement, ensure family succession and care; in vānaprastha, keep a minimal but consistent practice of deva-pūjā and guest-honor.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Ashrama-dharma (Vanaprastha/Sannyasa conduct; duties toward guests and dependents)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Dharma-vīra
Type: Sacred landscape
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A forest hermitage where a vānaprastha offers water/food to arriving guests and performs simple deva-pūjā; an elder householder bids farewell after seeing children/grandchildren settled, symbolized by a family scene at the edge.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-part narrative: family settlement scene (children/grandchildren) and forest āśrama hospitality with atithi reception; deva-pūjā near a small shrine; bold lines, warm earth tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central hospitality scene with gold accents on offering vessels; small shrine for deva-pūjā; secondary vignette showing the householder handing responsibilities to grown children; ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic composition: steps—(1) settle dependents, (2) enter forest, (3) worship, (4) honor guests, (5) subsist on herbs; fine linework and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed guest-arrival at an āśrama; attendants minimal; refined depiction of offerings and respectful gestures; background vignette of household succession and departure to the forest."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धर्मोऽयम् = धर्मः + अयम्. ह्य् = हि. अपत्यापत्यञ्च = अपत्यापत्यम् + च. दृष्ट्वारण्यं = दृष्ट्वा + अरण्यम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 160.1–160.2 (vānaprastha observances and regimen); Agni Purana 159 (inner detachment supporting outer transition)
FAQs
It specifies ashrama-based conduct: forest-dwellers must perform deva-pūjā and atithi-satkara, while renunciants live on forest resources such as medicinal herbs and similar produce.
It catalogs practical dharma across life-stages—gṛhastha, vanaprastha, and yati—showing the text’s wide scope beyond mythology into social-religious law and disciplined lifestyle prescriptions.
Honoring gods and guests is presented as a core purifier for forest life, and the timely move to the forest after securing one’s lineage supports detachment (vairāgya) and merit through regulated renunciation.