Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
जराशोकसमाविष्टं रोगायतनमातुरं रजस्वलमनित्यञ्च भूतावासमिमन्त्यजेत्
jarāśokasamāviṣṭaṃ rogāyatanamāturaṃ rajasvalamanityañca bhūtāvāsamimantyajet
ਜੋ ਦੇਹ ਬੁਢਾਪੇ ਤੇ ਸ਼ੋਕ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਰੀ, ਰੋਗਾਂ ਦਾ ਆਸਰਾ, ਪੀੜਿਤ, ਰਜਸਵਲਾ ਦੋਸ਼ ਵਾਲੀ, ਅਨਿੱਤ ਅਤੇ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਨਿਵਾਸ ਹੈ—ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਤਿਆਗਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Strengthen renunciation by reflecting on aging, sorrow, disease, impurity, impermanence, and the body as a host for organisms.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Deha-tyāga-bhāvanā: Grounds for abandoning attachment to the body","lookup_keywords":["jarā","śoka","roga-āyatana","anitya","bhūtāvāsa"],"quick_summary":"The body is portrayed as pervaded by aging and sorrow, a seat of disease and impurity, impermanent, and a dwelling of beings—hence fit to be relinquished (as attachment)."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphoric listing (guṇa-saṅkhyāna) with didactic tone
Concept: Anityatā and duḥkha-doṣa-darśana of embodied existence; disidentification from the body as a step toward mokṣa.
Application: Contemplate these defects to weaken ego-identification and to prioritize sādhana (japa, dhyāna, tyāga).
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Vairagya (Detachment and Renunciation Teachings)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A renunciant turning away from a symbolic human form marked by age, sorrow, sickness, and impermanence—shown as fading garland, with small creatures indicating the body as a habitat.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic in ochre robes facing away from a pale, aging figure, motifs of withering lotus and fading garland, subtle insects as 'bhūtāvāsa', solemn śānta mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central renunciant with gold halo, to one side an impermanent body motif (cracked mirror, wilted flowers), rich ornament used ironically to show transience","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, narrative clarity: panels showing jarā (bent posture), śoka (tears), roga (bed), anitya (hourglass), then renunciant stepping toward a simple shrine/meditation seat","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical courtly scene: philosopher-ascetic in a garden, observing an aging man and a physician scene, fine detail, muted melancholy palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रोगायतनमातुरं → रोग-आयतनम् + आतुरम्; रजस्वलमनित्यञ्च → रजस्वलम् + अनित्यम् + च; भूतावासमिमन्त्यजेत् → भूत-आवासम् + इमम् + त्यजेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 161 (Mokṣa-dharma/Vairāgya cluster)
FAQs
It imparts mokṣa-vidyā in the form of deha-viveka: a practical contemplation on the body’s impurity, affliction, and impermanence to generate vairāgya (dispassion) and loosen attachment.
Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-oriented instruction; this verse exemplifies its coverage of soteriology and ethical psychology through structured renunciation teachings.
By recognizing the body as impermanent and impure, one reduces craving and ego-identification, which supports cessation of harmful karma and strengthens the orientation toward liberation (mokṣa).