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
ವನವಾಸಿಗಳ ಧರ್ಮ ಇದು—ದೇವಪೂಜೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅತಿಥಿ ಸತ್ಕಾರ. ಯತಿಗಳ ಜೀವನವೃತ್ತಿ ಔಷಧಿ ಮೊದಲಾದವುಗಳಿಂದ. ಗೃಹಸ್ಥನು ತನ್ನ ಮಕ್ಕಳು-ಮೊಮ್ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಸ್ಥಿರರಾದುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಅರಣ್ಯವನ್ನು ಆಶ್ರಯಿಸಬೇಕು।
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.