Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 39
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
सङ्कीर्णकरणं ज्ञेयं मीनाहिनकुलस्य च निन्दितेभ्यो धनादानं बाणिज्यं शूद्रसेवनं
saṅkīrṇakaraṇaṃ jñeyaṃ mīnāhinakulasya ca ninditebhyo dhanādānaṃ bāṇijyaṃ śūdrasevanaṃ
ਸੰਕੀਰਣ (ਮਿਸ਼ਰ ਜਨਮ) ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਕੰਮਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੱਛੀ ਫੜਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਮੱਛੀ ਤੇ ਨਕੁਲ (ਮੰਗੂਸ) ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਧੰਦਾ ਵੀ ਜਾਣਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ; ਨਿੰਦਿਤ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਧਨ ਦੇਣਾ, ਵਪਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ੂਦਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨੀ ਵੀ ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s dominant narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Classifies censured livelihoods and social conduct for saṅkīrṇa (mixed-origin) groups and prohibited economic relations, informing occupational ethics and social regulation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Saṅkīrṇa-vṛtti (censured mixed-origin occupations and dealings)","lookup_keywords":["saṅkīrṇa","vṛtti","matsya-vāṇijya","nindita-dhanādāna","śūdra-sevā"],"quick_summary":"Identifies occupations and transactions treated as blameworthy—especially fishing-related trades, commerce tied to censured persons, and service under Śūdras—used for dharma-based livelihood assessment."}
Concept: Dharma regulates livelihood (ājīvikā) and social association; certain trades and financial dealings are marked as nindita (censured) due to perceived harm or impurity.
Application: Guides choices of profession, patronage, and service relationships; supports community arbitration on acceptable economic conduct.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Varna–Jati–Achara (Social conduct and mixed-caste occupations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau of various livelihoods: fishermen with nets, traders with scales, a servant attending a master; a teacher points to a list of censured occupations.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rishi teaching with narrative panels: fishing scene by a river, marketplace with scales, household service scene; bold outlines, traditional palette, moral annotation feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central guru with gold halo, side compartments showing fisherman, merchant, and servant; rich ornamentation, symmetrical layout, didactic icon panels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: labeled vignettes of occupations (nets, fish baskets, weighing scales), guru and students, soft shading and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling bazaar with merchants and fishermen, a scholar in the corner reading a dharma text, realistic objects (scales, coins), layered urban scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: saṅkīrṇakaraṇam = saṅkīrṇa-karaṇam; mīnāhinakulasya = mīna-ahi-nakulasya; śūdrasevanam = śūdra-sevanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (varṇa-jāti-ācāra prohibitions); Agni Purana 170 (prāyaścitta for censured acts)
FAQs
It classifies certain livelihoods and associations as characteristic of saṅkīrṇa (mixed-origin) conduct—especially censured trades (e.g., fishing/animal-handling), commerce, serving Śūdras, and financial dealings with nindita (blameworthy) persons.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical Dharma topics—social classification, occupational norms, and ethical boundaries—showing its coverage of law-like conduct rules alongside ritual and spiritual material.
The verse implies that livelihood and association affect purity and karmic standing; engaging in nindita connections or censured work is treated as spiritually degrading and thus to be recognized and avoided by those seeking dharmic conduct.