Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 2
The Livelihood of the Householder (गृहस्थवृत्तिः) — Agni Purana, Chapter 152
कृषिबाणिज्यगोरक्ष्यं कुशीदञ्च द्विजश् चरेत् गोरसं गुडलवणलाक्षामांसानि वर्जयेत्
kṛṣibāṇijyagorakṣyaṃ kuśīdañca dvijaś caret gorasaṃ guḍalavaṇalākṣāmāṃsāni varjayet
ਦੁਇਜ (ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ) ਖੇਤੀ, ਵਪਾਰ, ਗੋ-ਰੱਖਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਕੁਸੀਦ (ਸੂਦ ’ਤੇ ਧਨ ਦੇਣਾ) ਵੀ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ; ਪਰ ਗੋਰਸ (ਗੋ-ਉਤਪਾਦ), ਗੁੜ, ਨਮਕ, ਲਾਖ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਰਹੇਜ਼ ਕਰੇ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Enumerates allowable economic activities for a twice-born (including brāhmaṇa) and lists specific trade/consumption prohibitions—used to regulate ethical livelihood, market participation, and purity-linked diet/commerce.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Permitted occupations and prohibited commodities for a dvija","lookup_keywords":["kṛṣi","vāṇijya","gorakṣya","kuśīda","vर्ज्य-dravya"],"quick_summary":"Allows agriculture, trade, cattle-protection, and money-lending for dvijas, while restricting certain commodities (cow-products, jaggery, salt, lac, meat) as items to avoid in conduct/commerce."}
Concept: Right livelihood includes both permitted professions and avoidance of specific goods deemed improper for dvija conduct.
Application: Guides household economy: what work to adopt and what items to avoid producing/trading/consuming to maintain dharmic standing.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Varna-Ashrama Dharma (Brahmana livelihood and prohibitions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija engaged in farming and trade, protecting cows, and lending money; beside him a clear set of ‘to be avoided’ items displayed: dairy/cow-products, jaggery, salt, lac, and meat.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: narrative strip showing ploughing, market trade with scales, cow protection in a shed, a money-lending scene with coins; a separate panel of prohibited items arranged symbolically; bold flat colors, strong outlines, temple-lamp motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central dvija figure with gold-embossed ornaments and border; surrounding vignettes of agriculture, commerce, cowherd scene, coin ledger; prohibited items shown in a gold-framed cartouche; rich reds/greens with gold leaf.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional painting with four permitted occupations in quadrants and a fifth quadrant listing prohibited commodities as neatly drawn objects; fine linework, soft shading, clear didactic layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed rural-urban montage—fields, bazaar, cattle enclosure, moneylender’s desk; still-life of prohibited items; realistic textures, perspective, subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kṛṣibāṇijyagorakṣyaṃ → kṛṣi-bāṇijya-go-rakṣyam; kuśīdañca → kuśīdam + ca; dvijaś caret → dvijaḥ + caret; guḍalavaṇalākṣāmāṃsāni → guḍa-lavaṇa-lākṣā-māṃsāni
Related Themes: Agni Purana 152 (Gṛhastha-vṛtti rules)
FAQs
It lays down dharma-guidelines for a dvija’s means of livelihood (agriculture, commerce, cattle-keeping, lending) and specifies substances he should avoid, functioning as practical conduct-regulation within Rajadharma/Varna-dharma.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies social ethics and governance norms—here, occupational permissions and prohibitions—showing its wide coverage of applied dharma, economy, and conduct.
By regulating livelihood and consumables, the verse aims at purity of conduct and restraint; such discipline is presented as supporting dharmic merit (puṇya) and reducing karmic fault arising from prohibited gain or impure consumption.