Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
जराशोकसमाविष्टं रोगायतनमातुरं रजस्वलमनित्यञ्च भूतावासमिमन्त्यजेत्
jarāśokasamāviṣṭaṃ rogāyatanamāturaṃ rajasvalamanityañca bhūtāvāsamimantyajet
జరా, శోకంతో నిండినది; రోగాల ఆశ్రయం; బాధితమైనది; రజస్వల దోషానికి లోబడినది; అనిత్యమైనది; జీవుల నివాసమైన ఈ దేహాన్ని త్యజించాలి।
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).