Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
अकार्पण्यास्पृहाशौचं यस्यैते स परं व्रजेत् प्रचारे मैथुने चैव प्रस्रावे दन्तधावने
akārpaṇyāspṛhāśaucaṃ yasyaite sa paraṃ vrajet pracāre maithune caiva prasrāve dantadhāvane
ಅಕಾರ್ಪಣ್ಯ (ಕೃಪಣತೆಯ ಅಭಾವ), ಅಸ್ಪೃಹಾ (ಆಕಾಂಕ್ಷಾರಹಿತತೆ) ಮತ್ತು ಶೌಚ (ಪವಿತ್ರತೆ) ಯಾರಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವುದೋ ಅವನು ಪರಮಪದವನ್ನು ಸೇರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಸಂಚಾರ, ಮೈಥುನ, ಮೂತ್ರವಿಸರ್ಜನೆ ಮತ್ತು ದಂತಧಾವನದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಈ ನಿಯಮಗಳು ಪಾಲ್ಯ.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Apply purity-and-conduct rules (śauca/ācāra) governing movement, sexual conduct, urination, and dental cleaning; cultivate non-miserliness and non-craving as prerequisites for higher attainment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ācāra-śauca in daily acts (gati, maithuna, prasrāva, dantadhāvana) and qualifying virtues","lookup_keywords":["Shauca","Akarpanya","Asprha","Maithuna-niyama","Dantadhavana"],"quick_summary":"States that freedom from miserliness, absence of craving, and purity lead to the supreme goal, and signals specific domains where detailed conduct rules apply: movement, sex, urination, and tooth-cleaning."}
Concept: Śauca and inner renunciation (aspr̥hā) as gateways to paramagati; dharma expressed in minute daily acts.
Application: Adopt a daily śauca routine: mindful conduct in public movement, regulated sexuality, cleanliness after excretion, and consistent dental care; practice generosity and reduce craving.
Khanda Section: Dharma-Śāstra / Ācāra-vidhi (Rules of conduct and purity)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder’s daily routine shown in sequence: walking with restraint in a village path, modest marital conduct implied symbolically, washing after urination at a water pot, and cleaning teeth with a twig near a courtyard—emphasizing purity and simplicity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential narrative panels of daily ācāra: restrained walking, water-pot cleansing, dantadhāvana with twig, minimalistic domestic setting, warm ochres and greens, decorative borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central figure embodying śauca with gold-highlighted water vessel and clean white garments, small side vignettes of dantadhāvana and ablution, ornate but disciplined composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional storyboard: four labeled panels (pracāra, maithuna, prasrāva, dantadhāvana), clear linework, soft colors, emphasis on correct posture and implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with detailed textiles and utensils, figure performing ablution and tooth-cleaning, subtle symbolic depiction of restraint, fine architectural detailing and floral margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अकार्पण्यम्+अस्पृहा+शौचम् → अकार्पण्यास्पृहाशौचम्; च+एव → चैव
Related Themes: Agni Purana 166 (ācāra-vidhi subsections on śauca and daily rules)
FAQs
It teaches āgamic/dharmic ā-śauca and ā-cāra discipline: cultivating non-miserliness, non-craving, and purity, applied to sensitive daily acts like movement, sex, urination, and tooth-cleaning.
It shows the text’s coverage beyond mythology—down to practical ethics and hygiene—integrating inner virtues (aspṛhā) with outward conduct (śauca) in everyday life-regulation.
By aligning inner restraint and outward cleanliness in ordinary bodily activities, one avoids impurity-born demerit and supports sattva, which the verse links to reaching the supreme spiritual goal.