Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 2
Vānaprastha-āśrama
The Forest-Dweller Stage of Life
वने वासः पयोमूलनीवारफलवृत्तिता प्रतिग्रहनिवृत्तिश् च त्रिःस्नानं ब्रह्मचारिता
vane vāsaḥ payomūlanīvāraphalavṛttitā pratigrahanivṛttiś ca triḥsnānaṃ brahmacāritā
വനത്തിൽ വാസം; പാൽ, മൂലങ്ങൾ, നീവാരം (കാട്ടരി), ഫലങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയിൽ ആശ്രയിച്ച് ജീവിക്കൽ; ദാനം സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നത് ഒഴിവാക്കൽ; ദിവസത്തിൽ മൂന്നു പ്രാവശ്യം സ്നാനം; ബ്രഹ്മചര്യം—ഇവയാണ് നിയമങ്ങൾ।
Lord Agni (teaching the āśrama-dharma portion in the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"A practical code for vānaprastha conduct: forest residence, regulated foraging/diet, non-acceptance of gifts, thrice-daily bathing, and celibacy—forming a daily regimen.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vānaprastha-niyama (Diet, Bathing, Non-acceptance, Celibacy)","lookup_keywords":["payo","mūla","nīvāra","trih-snāna","brahmacarya"],"quick_summary":"The forest-dweller lives on simple forest foods (milk, roots, wild rice, fruits), avoids gift-taking, bathes thrice daily, and maintains celibacy—disciplining senses and dependence."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Niyama as a means to weaken attachment: controlled diet, bodily discipline, and celibacy stabilize mind for higher pursuit.
Application: Design a daily schedule: simple food procurement, fixed bathing times, strict boundaries on receiving/possessing, and brahmacarya as a vow.
Khanda Section: Dharma-śāstra / Āśrama-dharma (Rules of conduct for the four āśramas)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Vīra (self-control)
Type: Sacred landscape
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vānaprastha in a forest collects roots and fruits, cooks nīvāra, keeps a small milk vessel; nearby a river for thrice-daily bathing; a gesture of refusal toward offered gifts; calm celibate demeanor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative panels: foraging roots/fruits, cooking nīvāra, bathing in a river thrice (three small vignettes), refusing gifts; stylized forest and water motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central ascetic with simple food offerings (milk, fruits) and a river motif; gold detailing on vessels and border; emphasis on purity and restraint.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional layout showing the regimen items (milk, roots, nīvāra, fruits) and ‘triḥ-snāna’ as three river dips; clean, diagram-like clarity with soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest scene with a stream; ascetic gathering food and bathing; a villager offering gifts being politely declined; fine naturalistic rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिःस्नानं = त्रिः + स्नानम् (अव्ययीभाव).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 160.1 (vānaprastha marks); Agni Purana 159 (śauca—purity underpinning snāna and restraint)
FAQs
It lays down āśrama-dharma observances: forest residence, regulated diet (milk, roots, nīvāra, fruits), non-acceptance of gifts (pratigraha-nivṛtti), thrice-daily bathing, and brahmacarya as a practical discipline.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogs applied norms of life—here, a concise code for ascetic/forest-stage living—showing its wide coverage of law, ethics, and daily practice.
These restraints cultivate purity (through triḥ-snāna), non-attachment (through avoiding gifts), and self-control (through brahmacarya), supporting tapas and reducing karmic entanglement.