Agni Purana

ब्रह्महा क्षयरोगी स्यात् सुरापः श्यावदन्तकः । स्वर्णहारी तु कुनखी दुश्चर्म्मा गुरुतल्पगः ।। ३७१.

A slayer of a Brahmin is afflicted with consumption; a drinker of liquor has blackened teeth; a gold thief is born with deformed nails and diseased skin; one who violates the teacher's bed is likewise afflicted.

यो येन संस्पृशत्येषां स तल्लिह्गोऽभिजायते । अन्नहर्ता मायावी स्याम्मूको वागपहारकः ।। ३७१.

Whoever comes into contact with these, takes on their mark; a food thief becomes a deceiver or mute, or one who steals speech.

धान्यं हृत्वाऽतिरिक्ताङ्गः पिशुनः पूतिनासिकः । तैलहृत्तैलपायी स्यात् पूतिवक्त्रस्तु सूचकः ।। ३७१.

One who steals grain is born with extra limbs, is slanderous, or has a foul-smelling nose; one who steals oil becomes an oil drinker, and one who exposes secrets has a foul mouth.

परस्य योषितं हृत्वा ब्रह्मस्वमपहृत्य च । अरण्ये निर्जने देशे जायते ब्रह्मराक्षसः ।। ३७१.

One who steals another's wife or the property of a Brahmin is born as a brahma-rakshasa in a deserted, lonely place.

रत्नहारी हीनजातिर्गन्धान् छुछुन्दरी शुभान् । पत्रं शाकं शिखी हृत्वा मुखरो धान्यहारकः ।। ३७१.

A jewel thief is born in a low caste; one who steals perfumes becomes a musk rat; one who steals leaves or vegetables becomes a peacock; a grain thief is born talkative.

अजः पशुंपयः काको यानमुष्ट्रः फलं कपिः । मधु दंशः फलं गृध्रो गृहकाक उपस्करं ।। ३७१.

A goat steals cattle; a crow steals vehicles; a monkey steals fruit; a bee steals honey; a vulture steals fruit; a house-crow steals household items.

श्वित्री वस्त्रं सारसञ्च झिल्ली लवणहारकः । उक्त आध्यात्मिकस्तापः शत्राद्यैराधिभौतिकः ।। ३७१.

A person with vitiligo steals cloth; a crane steals rice; a cricket steals salt. The suffering just described is called 'adhyatmika'; suffering caused by enemies and others is 'adhibhautika.'

ग्रहाग्निदेवपीड़ाद्यैराधिदैविक ईरितः । त्रिधा तापं हि संसारं ज्ञानयोगाद्विनाशयेत् ३७१.

Suffering caused by planets, fire, gods, and so on is called 'adhidaivika.' One should destroy the threefold suffering of existence through knowledge and yoga.

अग्निरुवाच संसारतापमुक्त्यर्थं वक्ष्याम्यऽष्टाङ्गयोगकं । ब्रह्मप्रकाशकं ज्ञानं योगस्तत्रैकचित्तता ।। ३७२.

Agni said: To teach the means of liberation from the suffering of existence, I will explain the eight-limbed yoga, the knowledge that reveals Brahman; in yoga, the mind is made one-pointed.

चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधश्य जीवब्रह्मात्मनोः परः । अहिसा सत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्य्यापरिग्रहौ ।। ३७२.

The restraint of the modifications of the mind is the highest union of the individual self and Brahman; non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possessiveness are its principles.

यमाः पञ्च स्मृता विप्र नियमाद्‌भुक्तिमुक्तिदाः । शौचं सन्तोषतपसी स्वाध्यायेश्वरपूजने ।। ३७२.

These five are called yamas, O wise one; observance of them brings enjoyment and liberation. Purity, contentment, austerity, study, and worship of God are the niyamas.

भूतापीड़ा ह्यहिंसा स्यादहिंसा धर्म्म उत्तमः । यथा गजपदेऽन्यानि पदानि पथगामिनां ।। ३७२.

Non-violence is the highest virtue, for it prevents harm to beings; just as the footprints of the elephant cover those of other animals on the path.

एवं सर्वमहिंसायां धर्म्मार्थमभिधीयते । उद्वेगजननं हिंसा सन्तापकरणन्तथा ।। ३७२.

In the same way, all virtues are encompassed by non-violence; violence causes distress and suffering.

रुक्कृतिः शोनितकृतिः पैशुन्यकरणन्तथा । हितस्यातिनिषेधश्च मर्मोद्‌घाटनमेव च ।। ३७२.

Violence includes striking, causing bloodshed, slander, excessive prohibition of what is beneficial, and injuring vital parts.

सुखापह्नुतिः संरोधो बधो दशविधा च सा । यद्‌भूतहितमत्यन्तं वचः सत्यस्य लक्षणं ।। ३७२.

Concealing happiness, obstructing, binding—these are ten forms of violence. Speaking what is truly beneficial to beings is the mark of truth.

सत्यं ब्रूयात्प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात्सत्यमप्रियं । प्रियञ्च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्म्मः सनातनः ।। ३७२.

One should speak the truth and speak what is pleasant, but not speak unpleasant truth; nor should one speak pleasant falsehood—this is the eternal law.

मैथुनस्य परित्यागो ब्रह्मचर्य्यन्तदष्टधा । स्मरणां कीर्त्तनं केलिः प्रेक्षणं गुह्यभाषणं ।। ३७२.

Abstaining from sexual intercourse is called brahmacharya, which is eightfold: remembering, praising, playing, looking, speaking secretly—

सङ्कल्पोऽध्यवसायश्च क्रियानिर्वृत्तिरेव च । एतन्मैथुनमष्टाङ्गं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः ।। ३७२.

Intention, determination, and the completion of action—these are declared by the wise to be the eightfold components of sexual union.

ब्रह्मचर्य्यं क्रियामूलमन्यथा विफला क्रिया । वसिष्ठञ्चन्द्रमाः शुक्रो देवाचार्य्यः पितामहः ।। ३७२.

Celibacy is the root of action; otherwise, action is fruitless. Vasiṣṭha, the moon, Śukra, the divine teacher, and the grandfather (Brahmā)—

तपोवृद्धा वयोवृद्धास्तेऽपि स्त्रीभिर्विमोहिताः । गौड़ी पैष्टी च माध्वी च विज्ञेयास्त्रिविधाः सुराः ।। ३७२.

Even those advanced in austerity and age have been deluded by women. Gaurī, Paiṣṭī, and Mādhvī are to be known as the three kinds of liquor.

चतुर्थी स्त्री सुरा ज्ञेया ययेदं मोहितं जगत् । माद्यति प्रमदां दृष्ट्वा सुरां पीत्वा तु माद्याति ।। ३७२.

The fourth is woman, known as liquor, by which this world is deluded. One becomes intoxicated upon seeing a woman, and intoxicated upon drinking liquor.

यस्माद्‌दृष्टमदा नारी तस्मात्तान्नावलोकयेत् । यद्वा तद्वाऽपरद्रव्यमपहृत्य बलान्नरः ।। ३७२.

Therefore, one should not gaze upon a woman who causes intoxication by sight. Or, having taken another's property by force, a man—

अवश्यं याति तिर्य्यक्त्वं जगध्वा चैवाहुतं हविः । कौपीनाच्छादनं वासः कन्था शीतनिवारिणीं ।। ३७२.

Inevitably attains animal birth, and the offering poured into the fire is also lost. A loincloth, a garment, a rag, or something to ward off cold—

पादुके चापि गृह्णीयात् कुर्य्यान्नान्यस्य संग्रहं । देहस्थितिनिमित्तस्य वस्त्रादेः स्यात्परिग्रहः ।। ३७२.

He may take sandals as well, but should not accept anything else. The acquisition of clothing and such is permitted only for bodily maintenance.

शरीरं धर्म्मसंयुक्तं रक्षणीयं प्रयत्नतः । शौचन्तु द्विविधं प्रोक्तं वाह्यमभ्यन्तरं तथा ।। ३७२.

The body, joined with righteousness, must be carefully protected. Purity is said to be twofold: external and internal.

मृज्जलाभ्यां स्मृतं वाह्यं भावशुद्धेरथान्तरं । उभयेन् शुचिर्यस्तु स शुचिर्नेतरः शुचिः ।। ३७२.

External purity is remembered as achieved by earth and water; internal, by purity of mind. He who is pure in both is pure; one who is not, is not pure.

यथा कथञ्चित्प्राप्त्या च सन्तोषस्तुष्टिरुच्यते । मनसश्येन्द्रियाणाञ्च ऐकाग्र्यं तप उच्यते ।। ३७२.

Contentment is called satisfaction when something is obtained by any means. Concentration of mind and senses is called austerity.

तज्जयः सर्वधर्म्मेभ्यः स धर्म्मः पर उच्यते । वाचिकं मन्त्रजप्यादि मानसं रागवर्ज्जनं ।। ३७२.

Mastery of that is superior to all duties; it is called the highest duty. Verbal austerity is recitation of mantras and the like; mental is the avoidance of passion.

शारीरं देवपूजादि सर्वदन्तु त्रिधा तपः । प्रणवाद्यास्ततो वेदाः प्रणवे पर्यवस्थिताः ।। ३७२.

Physical austerity is worship of the gods and so forth; thus, austerity is threefold. The Vedas arise from the syllable Om; they are established in Om.