Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
फलैधःकुसुमस्तेयमधैर् यञ्च मलावहं
phalaidhaḥkusumasteyamadhair yañca malāvahaṃ
ഫലങ്ങൾ, വിറക്, പുഷ്പങ്ങൾ എന്നിവ മോഷ്ടിക്കൽ, കൂടാതെ അധൈര്യത്തോടെ/അന്യായമായി എന്തെങ്കിലും കവർന്നെടുക്കൽ—ഇവ എല്ലാം മലിനത (അശൗചം) വരുത്തുന്നു.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Agni Purāṇa’s primary narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Defines minor thefts (fruits, firewood, flowers) and dishonest taking as impurity-causing, guiding everyday ethics around property and resource use.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Phala-idhah-kusuma-steya (theft of fruits, firewood, flowers) as mala-āvaha","lookup_keywords":["steya","phala-steya","idhah-steya","kusuma-steya","mala-āvaha"],"quick_summary":"Even seemingly small thefts—taking fruits, firewood, or flowers—are treated as defiling; the rule discourages petty dishonesty and supports restitution/expiation norms."}
Concept: Asteya (non-stealing) applies to minor goods; moral impurity arises from dishonest appropriation regardless of value.
Application: Encourages permission-seeking, fair exchange, and restitution; relevant for temple-groves, village commons, and household boundaries.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dāna–Prāyaścitta (Ethics, theft-prohibitions, and impurity-causing acts)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person stealthily taking fruits, firewood, and flowers from an orchard/forest/temple garden; a dharma-teacher indicates that even small theft causes mala (defilement).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative strip: orchard with fruit, bundle of firewood, temple garden flowers; a figure taking them secretly; rishi teaching in a corner; bold traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central moral teacher with gold halo, side scenes of fruit theft and flower plucking from a sacred grove, ornate gold borders, emphasis on ethical warning.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional vignettes: fruit basket, firewood bundle, flower garland; a hand taking without consent marked as steya; fine lines and soft tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed garden scene with flowering plants and fruit trees, a thief figure, a scholar/judge observing, realistic textures and architecture, moral-legal narrative."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: phalaidhaḥkusumasteyam = phala-idhaḥ-kusuma-steyam; yañca = yat ca; malāvaham = mala-āvaham. ‘adhair’ appears as a sandhi/orthographic variant of ‘adhaḥ’; exact reading may vary by edition.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (pāpa/aśauca catalog); Agni Purana 170 (prāyaścitta for theft)
FAQs
It classifies even seemingly minor thefts (fruits, fuel, flowers—often connected with daily worship and offerings) as acts that generate ritual/ethical impurity, guiding correct conduct for householders and temple contexts.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma-encyclopedia function by giving practical norms of behavior—bridging social law (theft), religious practice (items used in pūjā and homa), and the doctrine of purity/impurity.
The teaching is that dishonest appropriation produces mala (defilement) and negative karma; avoiding such acts preserves purity and supports merit (puṇya) in both ritual life and daily conduct.