Shloka 78
Prohibitions and Rules of Right Conduct (Ācāra): Theft, Speech, Purity, Residence, and Social Boundaries
न चाग्निं लंघयेद्धीमान्नोपदध्यादधः क्वचित् । न चैनं पादतः कुर्य्याच्छूर्पेण न धमेद्बुधः
na cāgniṃ laṃghayeddhīmānnopadadhyādadhaḥ kvacit | na cainaṃ pādataḥ kuryyācchūrpeṇa na dhamedbudhaḥ
دانشمند شخص کو چاہیے کہ مقدّس آگ کے اوپر سے قدم نہ رکھے، اور کبھی اس کے نیچے کوئی چیز نہ رکھے۔ نہ اسے پاؤں سے چھوئے؛ اور صاحبِ فہم آدمی چھاج (شورپ) سے اس پر پھونک نہ مارے۔
Unspecified (didactic injunction within the Svarga-khaṇḍa narrative context)
Concept: Agni is to be treated as a sacred presence; bodily disrespect and careless handling diminish ritual purity and inner discipline.
Application: Maintain reverence for sacred spaces and tools: do not step over offerings/lamps, avoid placing clutter beneath altars, and handle ritual fire/lamp with mindful cleanliness.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a quiet household shrine, a small sacred fire burns in a copper kuṇḍa beside a Vishnu altar. A disciplined devotee stands with folded hands, carefully keeping distance—no foot crossing, no objects placed beneath—while a winnowing fan lies unused, signaling restraint and correct ācāra.","primary_figures":["Agni (sacred fire personified)","Vaishnava householder devotee","Vishnu (altar icon)"],"setting":"Lamp-lit shrine room with copper fire-pit, tulasi pot nearby, brass vessels, and neatly arranged offerings","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["gold leaf","deep vermilion","smoke gray","sandalwood beige","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a Vaishnava home-sanctum with Vishnu icon on a jeweled pedestal, a glowing agni-kuṇḍa in front, devotee in añjali maintaining strict distance; heavy gold leaf halos, rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch (prabhāvali), intricate floor kolam patterns, sacred implements rendered with metallic sheen.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate indoor shrine scene with delicate linework—small fire in copper kuṇḍa, devotee poised in restraint, soft smoke curling; cool muted palette with lyrical realism, patterned textiles, refined faces, subtle light from oil lamps, minimal but elegant architecture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments—Vishnu icon with large expressive eyes, agni flames stylized in rhythmic curves, devotee in traditional attire; temple-wall aesthetic with red/yellow/green dominance, ornamental borders, sacred vessels simplified yet iconic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vishnu-centered shrine with lotus motifs and ornate floral borders; agni-kuṇḍa as a radiant focal point, devotee maintaining maryādā; deep indigo background, gold highlights, intricate patterns, peacocks and stylized lotuses framing the sanctum."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","gentle crackle of fire","conch shell (distant)","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāgniṃ = ca + agnim; laṃghayeddhīmān = laṅghayet + dhīmān; dhīmānnopadadhyāt = dhīmān + na + upadadhyāt; upadadhyādadhaḥ = upadadhyāt + adhaḥ; cainaṃ = ca + enam; kuryyācchūrpeṇa = kuryāt + śūrpeṇa; dhamedbudhaḥ = dhamet + budhaḥ
FAQs
It lays down etiquette for treating the sacred fire (agni) with reverence—do not step over it, place things beneath it, touch it with the feet, or blow on it with a winnowing fan.
It teaches reverence and restraint: sacred elements used in worship should not be treated casually or in ways associated with disrespect or impurity.
Not directly; it is primarily a dharma/ācāra (conduct) instruction. Indirectly, it supports devotional life by prescribing respectful ritual behavior.