Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 35
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
आत्मार्थञ्च क्रियारम्भो निन्दितान्नदनन्तथा अनाहिताग्नितास्तेयमृणानाञ्चानपक्रिया
ātmārthañca kriyārambho ninditānnadanantathā anāhitāgnitāsteyamṛṇānāñcānapakriyā
ಸ್ವಲಾಭಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸುವುದು, ನಿಂದಿತ ಅನ್ನವನ್ನು ದಾನಮಾಡುವುದು, ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಇರುವಿಕೆ, ಕಳ್ಳತನ, ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಲಗಳನ್ನು ತೀರಿಸದೆ ಬಿಡುವುದು—ಇವು ನಿಂದ್ಯ ದೋಷಗಳು।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethics of ritual economy and household duty: prohibit self-serving ritual entrepreneurship, impure charity, neglect of agnihotra fires, theft, and debt-default; supports social trust and religious integrity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Blameworthy lapses: self-serving rites, censured charity, anāhitāgni, theft, and unpaid debts","lookup_keywords":["ātmārtha-kriyārambha","ninditānna-dāna","anāhitāgni","steya","ṛṇa-anapākriyā"],"quick_summary":"Rituals must not be initiated for mere personal gain; charity must be pure; householders should maintain sacred fires, avoid theft, and repay debts—otherwise one incurs social and religious blame."}
Concept: Dharma is upheld by intention (non-selfish ritual), purity of giving, maintenance of sacred obligations (fires), and economic honesty (no theft, repay debts).
Application: Householder checklist: examine motives for rites, give only śuddha-dāna, keep agni duties if eligible, maintain honest accounts and timely debt repayment.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Achara (Ethics of livelihood and expiation themes)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder before a domestic fire altar; a priest refusing a selfishly commissioned rite; a donor offering impure food being corrected; a thief caught; a debtor settling accounts and repaying.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, domestic agni-kunda glowing; rishi instructs a gṛhastha; side vignettes: improper dāna corrected, thief admonished, debt repayment scene; stylized flames and ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold: central agni altar and gṛhastha couple; gold-highlighted palm-leaf ledger for debts; small panels of dāna and theft; rich temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic sequence: (1) proper ritual intent, (2) pure charity, (3) maintaining āhita-agni, (4) no theft, (5) repay debts; clean labels and precise objects (ladles, altar, ledger).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, interior household scene with fire altar; marketplace scene of theft apprehension; accounting scene with repayment; fine details of utensils, textiles, and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: आत्मार्थञ्च→आत्मार्थम्+च; क्रियारम्भो→क्रियाआरम्भः; निन्दितान्नदनन्तथा→निन्दितान्नदानम्+तथा; अनाहिताग्नितास्तेयमृणानाञ्चानपक्रिया→अनाहिताग्निता+स्तेयम्+ऋणानाम्+च+अनपक्रिया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sections on gṛhastha-dharma and agni duties; Agni Purana: prāyaścitta for steya and omissions
FAQs
It classifies specific ritual-ethical faults: performing rites for selfish ends, improper charity (censured food), neglect of consecrated fires (anāhita-agni), theft, and non-discharge of debts—key categories used in Dharma discussions and expiation logic.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana catalogs practical Dharma norms—what constitutes blameworthy conduct in ritual practice, charity, household fire-discipline, property ethics, and financial obligation—showing its broad, law-and-ethics compendium character.
It warns that both wrongful actions (like theft) and omissions (neglecting sacred fires or debts) generate karmic fault; purity depends not only on performing rites, but on right intention, proper giving, and fulfilled obligations.