Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 34
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
इन्धनार्थमशुष्काणां दुमाणाञ्चैव पातनं योषितां ग्रहणञ्चैव स्त्रीनिन्दकसमागमः
indhanārthamaśuṣkāṇāṃ dumāṇāñcaiva pātanaṃ yoṣitāṃ grahaṇañcaiva strīnindakasamāgamaḥ
ការកាប់ដើមឈើស្រស់ (មិនទាន់ស្ងួត) ដើម្បីយកធ្វើឥន្ធនៈតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ, ការចាប់ពង្រត់ស្ត្រី, និងការសេពគប់ជាមួយអ្នកដែលប្រមាថស្ត្រី—ទាំងនេះជាអំពើត្រូវបានគេចាត់ទោស។
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for civic ethics: environmental restraint (avoid needless green-wood felling), protection of women, and social hygiene by avoiding misogynistic company.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Garihita acts: green-tree felling, abduction, and misogynist association","lookup_keywords":["aśuṣka-vṛkṣa-pātana","indhana-artha","yoṣit-grahaṇa","strī-nindaka-saṅga","garhita"],"quick_summary":"Condemns wasteful ecological harm, crimes against women, and the moral contagion of keeping company with those who disparage women."}
Concept: Dharma includes non-violence toward living nature, safeguarding women’s autonomy, and cultivating respectful speech/association.
Application: Policy and personal conduct: regulate timber use (seasoned wood), punish abduction, and avoid/discipline circles that normalize misogyny.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Nīti-śāstra (Ethics and conduct codes)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three cautionary vignettes: a man cutting a green tree for firewood; a woman being forcibly taken; a group of men gossiping with contempt toward women while a dharma-teacher gestures disapproval.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych composition: lush green tree being felled, a rescue/protection scene for a woman, and a council where a rishi condemns strī-nindā; bold outlines, stylized foliage, temple-border motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents: central dharma-ācārya holding palm-leaf text; side panels show green-wood cutting and yoṣit-grahaṇa being stopped by guards; ornate gold work and saturated colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional panels with clear narrative sequencing: (1) avoid cutting unseasoned trees, (2) prohibit abduction, (3) avoid misogynist company; fine linework, soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic forest scene of green tree felling; urban street scene of attempted abduction thwarted; salon scene of slanderous talk with a scholar admonishing; detailed textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"admonitory","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: इन्धनार्थमशुष्काणां→इन्धनार्थम्+अशुष्काणाम्; दुमाणाञ्चैव→दुमाणाम्+च+एव; ग्रहणञ्चैव→ग्रहणम्+च+एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Nīti rules on saṅga (association) and social offenses; Agni Purana: Rājadharma on protection of subjects
FAQs
It imparts nīti-vidyā (ethical instruction) by listing blameworthy actions: cutting green trees for fuel, abducting women, and keeping company with misogynists.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves practical dharma and civic ethics—here addressing environmental restraint, protection of women, and the moral impact of one’s associations.
The verse frames these behaviors as adharma that generate pāpa (demerit), emphasizing that harm, coercion, and corrupt companionship degrade one’s character and karmic standing.