Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
तथा वक्ष्ये समासेन भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं शृणु प्रवृत्तञ्च निवृत्तञ्च द्विविधङ्कर्म वैदिकं
tathā vakṣye samāsena bhuktimuktipradaṃ śṛṇu pravṛttañca nivṛttañca dvividhaṅkarma vaidikaṃ
اب میں اسے اختصار سے بیان کرتا ہوں—سنو—جو بھوگ اور موکش دونوں عطا کرتا ہے۔ ویدک کرم دو قسم کا ہے: پرورتّی اور نِورتّی۔
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Discriminate between pravṛtti (duty/ritual/action for worldly ends) and nivṛtti (renunciatory orientation) to choose an appropriate life-path and align Vedic practice with one’s goal (bhukti or mukti).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dvividhakarma: Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti (Vaidika Karma)","lookup_keywords":["pravṛtti","nivṛtti","vaidika-karma","bhukti","mukti"],"quick_summary":"Vedic action is classified into two orientations: engagement for worldly welfare and renunciation aimed at liberation. The verse frames the Purāṇic dharma teaching as a goal-based map for practice."}
Concept: Twofold Vedic path: pravṛtti for bhukti and nivṛtti for mukti; dharma is goal-oriented and method-specific.
Application: Use the twofold scheme to evaluate duties: perform obligatory/social rites without confusion, and cultivate renunciation when liberation is the aim.
Khanda Section: Karma-yoga & Dharma-shastra (Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti Vibhāga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-sage instructs a seated disciple, presenting two paths—one leading to household rites and prosperity, the other to forest renunciation and liberation—symbolized by two diverging roads or two scales labeled pravṛtti and nivṛtti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm earthy palette, a rishi with palm-leaf manuscript teaching a disciple; two symbolic pathways behind them—village yajña scene on one side, forest ascetic meditation on the other; ornate borders, temple-wall composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central guru figure with halo and gold leaf, disciple in añjali; two gold-embossed panels: pravṛtti with yajña fire and household prosperity, nivṛtti with ascetic and lotus of mokṣa; rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional diagram feel: two labeled branches ‘pravṛtti’ and ‘nivṛtti’ emerging from ‘vaidika karma’; calm sage and student; subtle gold highlights.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly atelier scene of a scholar explaining a bifurcated chart; detailed landscape split—town ritual vs forest hermitage; delicate textiles, precise calligraphy labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रवृत्तञ्च = प्रवृत्तम् + च; निवृत्तञ्च = निवृत्तम् + च; द्विविधङ्कर्म = द्विविधम् + कर्म; भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं treated as भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदम् (समास).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mokṣa-dharma / Nivṛtti sections (self-knowledge, sense-restraint, ahiṃsā); Agni Purana: Dharma-kāṇḍa discussions on vaidika karma and āśrama duties
FAQs
It classifies Vedic karma into two operational frameworks—pravṛtti (engaged performance of duties/rites for ordered life and results) and nivṛtti (withdrawal/renunciatory discipline oriented to release).
By systematizing a core dharma-theory used across ritual, ethics, and liberation teachings, it links practical Vedic duty (social-ritual order) with mokṣa-oriented renunciation—showing the text’s broad scope from worldly governance to spiritual soteriology.
It frames karma as a graded means: pravṛtti supports lawful enjoyment and merit, while nivṛtti directs the practitioner toward detachment and liberation—together presenting a complete Vedic path to both bhukti and mukti.