Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 15

Yati-dharma

The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic

Devanagari script

अस्थिस्थूणं स्नायुयुतं मांसशोणितलेपनं चर्मावनद्धं दुर्गन्धं पूर्णं मूत्रपुरीषयोः

Transliteration

asthisthūṇaṃ snāyuyutaṃ māṃsaśoṇitalepanaṃ carmāvanaddhaṃ durgandhaṃ pūrṇaṃ mūtrapurīṣayoḥ

Translation

此身乃骨为柱，筋络缠束，涂以肉血，皮囊包裹，臭秽难闻，内充尿粪。

Word by Word

• अस्थि-स्थूणम्: a pillar of bones / bone-structured
• अस्थि-स्थूणम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थूण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; adjectival to implied ‘शरीरम्’

• स्नायु-युतम्: joined with sinews
• स्नायु-युतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed with sinews’

• मांस-शोणित-लेपनम्: coated with flesh and blood
• मांस-शोणित-लेपनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + शोणित (प्रातिपदिक) + लेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘smeared/coated with flesh and blood’

• चर्म-अवनद्धम्: wrapped in skin
• चर्म-अवनद्धम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अवनद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘covered with skin’

• दुर्गन्धम्: foul-smelling
• दुर्गन्धम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूर्णम्: full
• पूर्णम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पॄ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘filled’

• मूत्र-पुरीषयोः: of urine and feces
• मूत्र-पुरीषयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; Genitive dual ‘of urine and feces’

Speaker

Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Body-impurity contemplation (aśubha-bhāvanā) to reduce attachment and support renunciation/ethical restraint.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Deha-aśubhatā: Anatomical-impurity contemplation","lookup_keywords":["deha-nindā","aśubha-bhāvanā","asthi","snāyu","mūtra-purīṣa"],"quick_summary":"The body is analyzed as bones, sinews, flesh, blood, skin, foul odor, and excreta—an aid for dispassion and detachment."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Rupaka (implicit) / Bhāva-pradhāna varṇana

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deconstructing bodily beauty into constituents undermines rāga (attachment) and supports vairāgya.

Application: Use as a meditation: mentally enumerate bodily components to counter lust, vanity, and fear of loss.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Deha-ninda (Contemplation on the body’s impurity for dispassion)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: Bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: Shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic visualization of the human body as layered components—bones as a pillar, sinews binding, flesh and blood coating, skin wrapping, with symbolic vessels of urine and feces—meant to evoke dispassion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic anatomical layers shown as stylized cutaway (non-gory), yogi contemplating, earthy reds and ochres, emphasis on didactic purity theme, bībhatsa restrained by traditional decorum","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central meditating renunciant with gold aura, surrounding circular vignettes: bone pillar, sinews, flesh-blood smear, skin wrap, vessels labeled by icon (not text), ornate but moralizing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram-like composition, sequential layers of body depicted with fine lines, calm palette, renunciant pointing inward (antar-dṛṣṭi)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical scene in a garden pavilion: scholar-ascetic contemplating a symbolic mannequin showing layers, meticulous detail, subdued realism without gore"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: समासरूपाणि: अस्थिस्थूणम्, स्नायुयुतम्, मांसशोणितलेपनम्, चर्मावनद्धम्, मूत्रपुरीषयोः (द्वन्द्व).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 161 (Vairāgya/śauca sequence)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It imparts a contemplative ‘deha-ninda’ analysis—describing the body as a composite of bones, sinews, flesh, blood, skin, and wastes—used as a practical aid for detachment (vairāgya) and restraint of sense-craving.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purana includes didactic material on anatomy-like constituents and moral psychology; this verse exemplifies its integration of bodily description with soteriological instruction (how knowledge supports liberation-oriented conduct).

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By repeatedly recognizing the body’s impermanent and impure constituents, one reduces attachment and pride, supports ethical self-control, and strengthens liberation-oriented karma (non-clinging action and disciplined living).