Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 15
Ācāra
Right Conduct
न पश्येच्चार्कमुद्यन्तन्नास्तं यान्तं न चाम्भसि नेक्षेन्नग्नां स्त्रियं कूपं शूनास्थानमघौघिनं
na paśyeccārkamudyantannāstaṃ yāntaṃ na cāmbhasi nekṣennagnāṃ striyaṃ kūpaṃ śūnāsthānamaghaughinaṃ
ഉദയിക്കുന്ന സൂര്യനെയും അസ്തമിക്കുന്ന സൂര്യനെയും ജലത്തിൽ പ്രതിഫലിക്കുന്ന സൂര്യനെയും നോക്കരുത്. നഗ്നസ്ത്രീ, കിണർ, ശൂന്യസ്ഥലം, പാപസഞ്ചയം എന്നിവയിലേക്കും ദൃഷ്ടി ചെലുത്തരുത്.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard narrative frame of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Behavioral prohibitions: avoid staring at sun at liminal times and its reflection; avoid inauspicious/unsafe sights and places.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Darśana-niṣedha: sunrise/sunset, water-reflection, and inauspicious sights","lookup_keywords":["sūryodaya","sūryāsta","jalapratibimba","darśana-niṣedha","śūnya-sthāna"],"quick_summary":"Do not gaze at the sun at rise/set or in water reflection; avoid gazing at nudity, wells, deserted places, and scenes associated with evil—combining safety, modesty, and auspiciousness."}
Concept: Indriya-nigraha (sense restraint) and maṅgala-ācāra (auspicious conduct) as supports for purity and safety.
Application: Practice mindful seeing; avoid harmful/tempting/inauspicious stimuli and unsafe environments.
Khanda Section: Sadachara & Shauca-Niyama (Codes of Conduct and Purity Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person averts gaze from the rising/setting sun; a water surface reflects sunlight; nearby are symbolic warnings: a well, a deserted spot, and a shadowy ‘mass of evil’ motif; emphasis on restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; dramatic red-orange sun at horizon; figure with hand raised to avert gaze; stylized well and empty grove; dark swirling motif for agha; balanced, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting; radiant sun with gold halo; devotee turning away; reflective water rendered with gold highlights; symbolic icons (well, deserted place) arranged like a moral diagram.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; instructional panel showing ‘do not’ scenes in compartments: sunrise gaze, sunset gaze, sun in water, looking into well, entering deserted place; fine lines and soft washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; riverbank at dusk with sun reflection; figure averting eyes; detailed well and abandoned ruin in background; subtle ominous figures representing ‘agha’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Marwa","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पश्येच्चार्कम् = पश्येत् + च + अर्कम्; अर्कमुद्यन्तम् = अर्कम् + उद्यन्तम्; उद्यन्तन्नास्तम् = उद्यन्तम् + न + अस्तम्; नेक्षेत् = न + ईक्षेत्; शूनास्थानम् = शून + स्थानम्; स्थानमघौघिनम् = स्थानम् + अघौघिनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sandhyā-vidhi and daily conduct rules; Agni Purana: śauca-niyama lists
FAQs
It prescribes sadācāra (disciplinary conduct): avoid gazing at ritually or psychologically inauspicious sights—especially the sun at liminal times (rise/set) and its reflection in water—along with other sights considered destabilizing or impure for a disciplined life.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa compiles practical dharma: daily-life rules, purity norms, and behavioral restraints. This verse is a concise example of its handbook-like guidance on conduct, auspiciousness, and self-regulation.
The instruction supports śauca (inner/outer purity) and steadiness of mind; avoiding inauspicious or morally corrupting sights is presented as protective of one’s dharmic merit and conducive to spiritual discipline.