Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
The Livelihood of the Householder (गृहस्थवृत्तिः) — Agni Purana, Chapter 152
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे वर्णान्तरधर्मा नामैकपञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ द्विपञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः गृहस्थवृत्तिः पुष्कर उवाच आजीवंस्तु यथोक्तेन ब्राह्मणः स्वेन कर्मणा क्षत्रविट्शूद्रधर्मेण जीवेन्नैव तु शूद्रजात्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe varṇāntaradharmā nāmaikapañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha dvipañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ gṛhasthavṛttiḥ puṣkara uvāca ājīvaṃstu yathoktena brāhmaṇaḥ svena karmaṇā kṣatraviṭśūdradharmeṇa jīvennaiva tu śūdrajāt
अशा प्रकारे अग्नि-महापुराणातील ‘वर्णान्तरधर्म’ नावाचा १५१वा अध्याय समाप्त झाला. आता १५२वा अध्याय ‘गृहस्थवृत्ती’ सुरू होतो. पुष्कर म्हणाले—ब्राह्मणाने शास्त्रोक्त आपल्या कर्मानेच उपजीविका करावी; आपत्तीत क्षत्रिय, वैश्य किंवा शूद्रधर्मानेही जगू शकतो, पण शूद्रजात (शूद्राश्रित/शूद्रजन्य) उपजीविकेने नाही।
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Sets the hierarchy of permissible livelihoods for a brāhmaṇa householder: primarily own duties, secondarily other varṇa-duties in distress, but not servile dependence on śūdra-born livelihood—used for ethical economics and social role compliance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gṛhastha-vṛtti: brāhmaṇa livelihood hierarchy and restrictions","lookup_keywords":["gṛhastha-vṛtti","brāhmaṇa-ājīva","āpaddharma","varṇa-dharma","śūdra-jāta"],"quick_summary":"A brāhmaṇa should live by his prescribed work; in necessity he may adopt kṣatriya/vaiśya/śūdra-type duties, but should avoid livelihood that is fundamentally śūdra-derived/servile in dependence."}
Concept: Ājīva (livelihood) is part of dharma; role-appropriate work is primary, with graded allowances under necessity (āpaddharma).
Application: Personal ethics of earning: choosing permissible income sources, especially for householders responsible for dependents and ritual obligations.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Varna-ashrama-dharma (Grihastha-vritti)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Puṣkara teaching a seated audience; a brāhmaṇa householder shown with symbols of study/ritual, and a graded set of alternative livelihoods depicted as smaller side vignettes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: sage Puṣkara speaking, listeners seated; central brāhmaṇa with yajñopavīta and palm-leaf manuscript; side panels showing kṣatriya/vaiśya/śūdra-type tasks as permitted in distress; bold colors, clear narrative registers.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Puṣkara with gold halo-like ornamentation, ornate borders; central brāhmaṇa with ritual implements; small gold-highlighted vignettes of alternative duties; rich palette and embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional composition with a hierarchy ladder of livelihoods; Puṣkara pointing to the sequence; fine linework, soft shading, labels for each duty type.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholarly assembly with Puṣkara; detailed domestic scene of a householder; marginal vignettes of soldiering, trading, service; architectural depth and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti + āgneye; nāmaikapañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ → nāma + eka-pañcāśat-adhika-śata-tamaḥ + adhyāyaḥ; dvipañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ → dvi-pañcāśat-adhika-śata-tamaḥ + adhyāyaḥ; ājīvaṃstu → ājīvan + tu; jīvennaiva → jīvet + na + eva; śūdrajāt → śūdra-jāt
Related Themes: Agni Purana 152 (Gṛhastha-vṛtti section continues); Agni Purana 151 (Varṇāntara-dharma as preface)
FAQs
It gives dharma-śāstra guidance on ājīvika (lawful livelihood): a brāhmaṇa should primarily live by his own prescribed work, and only secondarily (in distress) by other varṇa-duties, avoiding śūdra-derived servile dependence.
Alongside ritual and cosmology, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies applied social ethics—here, professional norms and contingency livelihood rules—showing its broad coverage of governance and dharma in daily life.
By aligning livelihood with one’s prescribed duties, the householder preserves varṇa-dharma integrity, reduces karmic fault from improper means of support, and sustains purity of conduct (ācāra) as a basis for religious merit.