Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 29
Ācāra
Right Conduct
वेदशास्त्रनरेन्द्रर्षिदेवनिन्दां विवर्जयेत् स्त्रीणामीर्षा न कर्तव्या त्रिश्वासन्तासु वर्जयेत्
vedaśāstranarendrarṣidevanindāṃ vivarjayet strīṇāmīrṣā na kartavyā triśvāsantāsu varjayet
พึงละเว้นโดยสิ้นเชิงจากการกล่าวร้ายพระเวทและศาสตรา พระราชา ฤๅษี และเหล่าเทพเจ้า ไม่พึงมีความริษยาต่อสตรี และพึงเว้นการคบหา/ร่วมสังวาสกับสตรีผู้เป็น ‘ตรีศวาสันตา’ (หมายถึงอยู่ในระดู).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, as typical for this section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Ethical restraint: avoid blasphemy of sacred learning and authorities; cultivate non-jealousy; observe menstrual-related sexual restraint as a rule of purity/health and social dharma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nindā-tyāga and Strī-saṃyama: Social and Purity Restraints","lookup_keywords":["veda-nindā varjana","śāstra-nindā","rāja-ṛṣi-deva nindā","strī-īrṣyā","ṛtu-kāla varjana"],"quick_summary":"Do not revile the Veda/śāstra, king, sages, or gods. Avoid jealousy toward women and abstain from intercourse/association during menstruation (the ‘three-breathing’ state), aligning conduct with purity norms."}
Concept: Guarding speech from nindā; brahmacarya-like restraint in specific times; non-envy
Application: Practice respectful discourse about scripture and leaders; cultivate non-jealousy; follow time-bound sexual restraint rules.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Sadachara (Ethics and Right Conduct)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher recites Veda while listeners show reverence (no blasphemy); a household scene depicts a man restraining jealousy; a symbolic panel indicates menstrual-period restraint with a calendar-like lunar marker and a resting woman.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, gurukula scene with Veda recitation and respectful students, adjacent domestic vignette emphasizing calm mind and restraint, symbolic purity motifs (water pot, white cloth)","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central homage to Veda (palm-leaf manuscripts with gold), side panels of respectful salutation to king/sage/deity, and a discreet purity-observance scene rendered symbolically","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: icons labeled ‘Veda/Śāstra/Deva’ with a prohibition mark for nindā, and a clear, modest depiction of ṛtu-kāla restraint as a dharma rule","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly and scholarly setting showing reverence to learned and kingly figures, with a subtle domestic interior scene indicating restraint and propriety"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vedaśāstranarendrarṣidevanindām = veda + śāstra + narendra + ṛṣi + deva + nindām; strīṇāmīrṣā = strīṇām + īrṣā
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma sections on nindā and respect to king; Agni Purana: Śauca/ācāra passages on rajas and purity
FAQs
It teaches dharmic speech-discipline (avoiding nindā of Veda/śāstra, king, sages, gods) and a ritual-purity restraint: abstaining from intercourse/association with menstruating women (triśvāsantāsu).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana codifies practical social ethics (sadācāra) and purity regulations, showing its broad coverage of governance, personal conduct, and ritual hygiene.
Avoiding slander of sacred authorities and restraining jealousy and improper sexual conduct are presented as dharmic safeguards that reduce pāpa (demerit) and support inner purity conducive to religious merit.