Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
यस्माद्दृष्टमदा नारी तस्मात्तान्नावलोकयेत् यद्वा तद्वापरद्रव्यमपहृत्य बलान्नरः
yasmāddṛṣṭamadā nārī tasmāttānnāvalokayet yadvā tadvāparadravyamapahṛtya balānnaraḥ
由于女子因被注视而生骄醉（或欲醉），故不应以目贪视。又如是，男子不应以强力夺取他人财物——无论何物。
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Codify restraint in social interaction and prohibit theft/forcible seizure; supports personal ethics and kingly enforcement of property rights and public order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Restraint of gaze and prohibition of forcible taking (aparadravya-haraṇa)","lookup_keywords":["nīti","aparadravya","stealing","social restraint","rājadharma"],"quick_summary":"The verse advises guarding the senses to prevent social disorder and explicitly forbids taking another’s property by force. It aligns personal conduct with legal-ethical norms."}
Concept: Dama (sense-control) and asteya (non-stealing) are pillars of social dharma; unchecked desire leads to coercion and adharma.
Application: Practice respectful boundaries; uphold property rights; in governance, punish coercive appropriation and protect the vulnerable.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Ethics, Social Conduct, and Prohibitions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A moral-legal scene split in two: on one side a man averts his gaze in restraint; on the other a would-be thief forcibly grabbing goods is stopped by a guard or judge, symbolizing prohibition of coercive taking.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel didactic composition: restrained figure with downcast eyes; second panel shows a thief seized by royal attendants, stylized courtroom elements, bold contours and temple-wall symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rājā seated in judgment with gold halo, thief restrained by guards, confiscated goods displayed; side vignette of a disciplined man averting gaze, rich gold ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ethics tableau: clear gestures—averted gaze, open palm of refusal, judge indicating law; fine linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bazaar scene with attempted snatching stopped by officials, and a separate vignette of modest conduct; detailed textiles, architecture, and expressive faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यस्माद्दृष्टमदा = यस्मात् + दृष्टमदा; तस्मात्तान्नावलोकयेत् = तस्मात् + तान् + न + अवलोकयेत्; तद्वापरद्रव्यमपहृत्य = तद्वा + पर-द्रव्यम् + अपहृत्य; बलान्नरः = बलात् + नरः
Related Themes: Agni Purana: rājadharma/nīti chapters on theft, punishment, and social order; Agni Purana: ācāra rules on sense-restraint
FAQs
It imparts nīti-vidyā (practical ethics): restraint of the senses (especially the gaze) and a clear prohibition against forcibly taking another’s property.
Alongside ritual, cosmology, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves applied governance and ethics (rajadharma/nīti), giving concrete behavioral rules that support social order.
Sense-restraint and non-appropriation reduce desire-driven harm; avoiding coercion and theft aligns with dharma and prevents negative karma arising from violence, exploitation, and social disruption.