Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
परादभिभवश् चैव तस्माच्च व्यसनोद्भवः काषायवस्त्रधारित्वं तद्वस्त्रैः क्रीडनं तथा
parādabhibhavaś caiva tasmācca vyasanodbhavaḥ kāṣāyavastradhāritvaṃ tadvastraiḥ krīḍanaṃ tathā
又有为他人所制而败；由此生起由恶习所致之不幸。（又一征兆是）身着赭色衣（ochre），并且以此类衣物嬉戏。
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Reading social/ethical decline through observable behaviors (defeat, vice-born calamity, inappropriate adoption of renunciant markers) to guide corrective governance and personal conduct.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Adharma-lakṣaṇa: parābhava, vyasana, kāṣāya-veśa-vikṛti","lookup_keywords":["rājadharma","sadācāra","vyasana","parābhava","kāṣāya-vastra"],"quick_summary":"Defeat leading to vice-born misfortune is flagged as decline; adopting ochre garments as a fashion or for play (rather than true renunciation) is treated as a social sign of disorder."}
Concept: External markers of dharma (like kāṣāya) must match inner discipline; vice (vyasana) breeds cascading misfortune after social/political defeat.
Application: Encourage authentic āśrama-dharma and curb vyasana through education, regulation, and personal vows of restraint.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Sadachara (Ethics of conduct; causes and signs of moral decline)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A defeated group returning from conflict; people indulge in vices; some wear ochre robes frivolously, treating renunciant attire as costume, indicating social confusion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, procession of dejected figures, symbolic ochre-robed youths laughing and playing, elders showing disapproval, strong gesture-based moral narrative","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central moral tableau with gold accents on garments, contrast between true ascetic figure (calm) and playful ochre-clad imitators (restless), decorative border emphasizing didactic theme","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, courtly scene of counsel: advisor pointing to signs of decline—defeat reports, gamblers/drinkers, and ochre garments used as play—fine lines and subdued colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed street/court scene: defeated soldiers, vice activities in side panels, ochre garments worn as costume, nuanced expressions and social realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: परादभिभवः = परात् + अभिभवः; चैव = च + एव; तस्माच्च = तस्मात् + च; व्यसनोद्भवः = व्यसन + उद्भवः; तद्वस्त्रैः = तद् + वस्त्रैः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana rājadharma/sadācāra discussions in the same adhyāya cluster (228)
FAQs
It gives practical Rajadharma-style diagnostics of social/ethical decline: defeat and humiliation leading to vice-born calamity, and the (mis)use of ascetic ochre clothing as an external marker linked here to degraded conduct.
Beyond rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also catalogs governance and ethics (sadācāra/rajadharma), including behavioral indicators and causal chains (defeat → vice → calamity), showing its wide coverage of social science-like topics.
It implies that vice (vyasana) produces tangible misfortune and social downfall, and that adopting sacred/ascetic symbols frivolously reflects inner disorder—warning that external appearance without discipline does not confer merit and can accompany karmic decline.