Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3
Yati-dharma
The Dharma of the Renunciate Ascetic
आत्मन्यग्नीन् समारोप्य प्रव्रजेद्ब्राह्मणो गृहात् दृष्ट्वावश्यमिति ङ तपश्चोग्रं वने चरेदिति ङ भजेद्दिशमजिम्हग इति ङ सङ्गान् परित्यजेदिति ङ विरजेद्वापि तदह्नि इति ङ एक एव चरेन्नित्यं ग्रासमन्नाथमाश्रयेत्
ātmanyagnīn samāropya pravrajedbrāhmaṇo gṛhāt dṛṣṭvāvaśyamiti ṅa tapaścograṃ vane carediti ṅa bhajeddiśamajimhaga iti ṅa saṅgān parityajediti ṅa virajedvāpi tadahni iti ṅa eka eva carennityaṃ grāsamannāthamāśrayet
婆罗门当将诸圣火安置于自身之中（内火），从家而出，入于无家之行（出离）。观见不可避免者（死亡与无常），当在林中修行严厉苦行。应取直向而行，不曲不偏；舍离一切结交与执著；并自当日起离染净垢。常应独行游化，以一口之食自存，唯依不以为己有而得之食。
Lord Agni (instructional narration, typical Agni Purana dialogue to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Core sannyāsa conduct: internalize the sacred fires (agni-nyāsa/antar-agni), leave home, cultivate impermanence-awareness, practice intense tapas, move straightforwardly, abandon saṅga, wander alone, and live on minimal alms/food without possessiveness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Yati Conduct: Antar-agni, Saṅga-tyāga, Ekacarya, and Alpa-āhāra","lookup_keywords":["ātmani agni-samāropa","saṅga-parityāga","ekacarya","ajihmagati","grāsa-āhāra"],"quick_summary":"Defines the renunciant’s discipline: relocate ritual fire inward, depart into homelessness, live with unwavering straightforwardness, sever attachments, wander alone, and subsist on minimal, non-possessive food."}
Concept: Antar-agni (internalized sacrifice) and ekānta-caryā (solitary wandering) as means to dissolve egoic identity; impermanence (avaśyam—inevitability) as the engine of vairāgya.
Application: Shift from external ritualism to inner discipline (self-restraint, meditation, ethical purity); practice non-possessiveness and moderated intake; maintain straightforwardness in speech and conduct.
Khanda Section: Sannyasa & Moksha-dharma (Vairagya, Vanaprastha/Sannyasa conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vairagya
Type: Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brāhmaṇa renunciant performs inner-fire contemplation (hands near heart, subtle flame motif), leaves a house behind, enters forest, walks a straight path alone with staff and water-pot, receiving a small mouthful of alms and eating without possessiveness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: triptych—(1) house doorway with renunciant stepping out, (2) forest scene with yogic posture and a small inner-flame at the heart, (3) lone wanderer on straight path receiving a small alms portion; restrained, serene palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central yati with gold halo and faint heart-flame motif; background shows home left behind and forest ahead; a small bowl with a single mouthful of food emphasized; ornate gold work yet austere composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional clarity—icons for antar-agni (heart flame), saṅga-tyāga (severed knot), ekacarya (single footprint trail), grāsa-āhāra (small morsel); fine detailing and calm tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: narrative sequence in one frame—house on left, forest on right; solitary ascetic walking straight; a villager offers a small morsel; realistic foliage and architecture, subdued spiritual mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ātmani+agnīn → ātmanyagnīn; pravrajet+brāhmaṇaḥ → pravrajedbrāhmaṇo; dṛṣṭvā+avaśyam → dṛṣṭvāvaśyam; tapaḥ+ca+ugram → tapaścogam; ugraṃ+vane → ugraṃ vane; bhajet+diśam → bhajeddiśam; tat+ahni → tadahni; caret+nityam → carennityaṃ; anna+artham → annātham (ā-sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 161.2 (departure timing and iṣṭi); Agni Purana 160.5 (ajihmagati/aparāvṛtti motif); Agni Purana 160.4 (tapas regimen background)
FAQs
It teaches the sannyāsa-vidhi principle of ‘internalizing the fires’ (agnīnāṃ ātmany-āropaṇa)—i.e., relinquishing external household fire-rites and adopting the inner discipline of austerity, dispassion, and alms-based subsistence.
Alongside ritual and cosmological topics, the Agni Purana also codifies practical life-stages and ethics; this verse is a concise manual instruction for renunciation—covering conduct (ācāra), livelihood (bhikṣā/annāśraya), and mental discipline (vairāgya).
By abandoning attachments and adopting solitary, austere living from ‘that very day,’ the renunciate is said to purify rāga (passion) and saṅga (clinging), accelerating liberation-oriented karma (mokṣa-sādhana) through dispassion and self-restraint.