Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
Ācāra
Right Conduct
हीनान्नावहसेत् गच्छेन्नादेशे नियसेच्च तैः वैद्यराजनदीहीने म्लेच्छस्त्रीबहुनायके
hīnānnāvahaset gacchennādeśe niyasecca taiḥ vaidyarājanadīhīne mlecchastrībahunāyake
हीन किंवा असुरक्षित होडीतून प्रवास करू नये. अयोग्य देशात जाऊ नये व अशा लोकांत राहू नये. जिथे वैद्य, राजा व नदी नाहीत, तसेच जिथे म्लेच्छ, स्त्रिया किंवा अनेक नायकांचे वर्चस्व आहे—तो प्रदेश टाळावा.
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework addressed to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Risk assessment for travel and settlement: avoid unsafe transport, unstable polities, and regions lacking governance, healthcare, and basic resources.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Deśa-parīkṣā: lands to avoid for safety and prosperity","lookup_keywords":["desa-pariksa","hinanava","vaidya-hina","raja-hina","bahu-nayaka"],"quick_summary":"Choose routes and residences with stable rule, medical support, and resources (like rivers); avoid unsafe boats, improper lands, and politically fragmented or socially hostile regions."}
Concept: Prudence (viveka) in choosing environment: dharma and well-being depend on stable institutions and resources.
Application: When migrating/trading/pilgrimage planning, prioritize political stability, healthcare availability, and water access; avoid fragmented rule and unsafe conveyance.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Sadachara (Codes of conduct and social-ethical rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler evaluates a boat and a map-like depiction of regions: one prosperous with a river, physician, and king; another chaotic with many rulers and insecurity, which the traveler avoids.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, narrative split scene: safe river crossing with sturdy boat and orderly town; contrasting unsafe boat and disorderly settlement; bold outlines, symbolic figures of king and vaidya","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central ‘ideal kingdom’ vignette with gold accents: crowned king, physician with medicine box, flowing river; side vignette shows fragmented rulers and unsafe boat, ornate framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like scene: icons for ‘vaidya’, ‘rāja’, ‘nadī’, ‘safe boat’; crossed-out icons for ‘unsafe boat’ and ‘bahu-nāyaka’; clean composition and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, traveler with attendants consulting a guide, detailed river crossing, background cityscape showing court and a physician’s shop; contrasting distant camp of quarrelling chiefs"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hīna-annam + na → hīnānnā- (written hīnānnā-); gacchet + na + adeśe → gacchet na adeśe (written gacchennādeśe); niyaset + ca → niyasecca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rājadharma/Nīti passages on good governance and public welfare; Agni Purana: Ācāra rules on travel and social association
FAQs
It teaches practical sadācāra: risk-aware travel and settlement—avoid unsafe transport, unsuitable countries, and regions lacking governance, medical care, and water access.
It blends ethics with real-world civil indicators—public health (vaidya), political order (rāja), and infrastructure/natural resources (nadī)—showing the text’s coverage beyond ritual into governance and social wellbeing.
Choosing safe, dharmically ordered environments supports disciplined living (ācāra), reduces entanglement in adharmic influences, and helps preserve purity of conduct—seen as conducive to merit and steadiness of mind.