Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 12
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
तपोवृद्धा वयोवृद्धास्ते ऽपि स्त्रीभिर्विमोहिताः गौडी पैष्टी च माध्वी च विज्ञेयास्त्रिविधाः सुराः
tapovṛddhā vayovṛddhāste 'pi strībhirvimohitāḥ gauḍī paiṣṭī ca mādhvī ca vijñeyāstrividhāḥ surāḥ
तपाने वृद्ध आणि वयाने वृद्ध असे लोकही स्त्रियांमुळे मोहात पडतात। सुरा (मद्य) तीन प्रकारची जाणावी—गौडी, पैष्टी आणि माध्वी।
Lord Agni (instructional narration within the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Warn against sexual temptation and intoxication; identify types of surā for regulation/prohibition, social discipline, and governance of vices.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Three kinds of surā (intoxicants) and the delusive power of desire","lookup_keywords":["surā","gauḍī","paiṣṭī","mādhvī","nīti"],"quick_summary":"Even ascetics and elders can be overcome by desire; intoxicants are classified as gauḍī, paiṣṭī, and mādhvī. The teaching supports moral restraint and policy-level control of vice."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Indriya-nigraha: austerity and age alone do not guarantee mastery over desire; vigilance is required.
Application: Adopt safeguards: avoid intoxicants, keep disciplined company (satsaṅga), regulate sensory inputs, and follow community rules on alcohol.
Khanda Section: Nīti-śāstra / Dharma-śāstra (Social conduct, vices, and moral instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A moral instruction tableau: an elder ascetic and an aged householder shown being distracted by sensual allure, while three vessels/jars are labeled gauḍī, paiṣṭī, and mādhvī to depict the classification of liquor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, didactic panel: two figures (tapasvī with jaṭā, elderly man with staff) turning away from a temptress figure; three ornate pots with script-like labels gauḍī/paiṣṭī/mādhvī; strong outlines, flat planes, temple-wall composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central warning scene with gold halos on the instructing sage, three gilded liquor pots in foreground, rich textiles, stylized expressions emphasizing temptation and restraint.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like composition: three vessels with distinct ingredients (jaggery/molasses for gauḍī, grain for paiṣṭī, honey for mādhvī), side vignette of distracted ascetic, fine detailing and muted palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate courtyard scene with an elder and ascetic, subtle gesture of distraction, three labeled jars on a carpet, delicate botanical border, restrained color harmony."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वयोवृद्धास्ते = वयो-वृद्धाः + ते; ते 'पि = ते + अपि; स्त्रीभिर्विमोहिताः = स्त्रीभिः + विमोहिताः; विज्ञेयास्त्रिविधाः = विज्ञेयाः + त्रिविधाः
Related Themes: Agni Purana: nīti/ācāra sections on kāma, mada, and prohibited conduct; Agni Purana: prāyaścitta for surā-pāna (where listed)
FAQs
It gives a technical classification of surā (intoxicating liquor) into three production-bases—molasses (gauḍī), grain/flour (paiṣṭī), and honey (mādhvī)—useful for dharma discussions on prohibited/regulated substances.
Alongside moral counsel, it preserves a compact, quasi-taxonomic definition of common intoxicants by raw material, reflecting the Purana’s habit of cataloging practical categories (foods, substances, conduct) within broader dharma and nīti instruction.
By highlighting delusion arising from desire and intoxication, it supports the dharmic ideal of restraint (saṃyama) and vigilance, implying that unchecked attachment can undermine even ascetics and elders, affecting purity of conduct and karmic outcomes.