Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
उपाकर्मणि चोत्सर्गं स्वशाखाश्रोत्रिये तथा सन्ध्यागर्जितनिर्घाते भूकम्पोल्कानिपातने
upākarmaṇi cotsargaṃ svaśākhāśrotriye tathā sandhyāgarjitanirghāte bhūkampolkānipātane
وفي طقس أوباكارما (Upākarman) وكذلك في (فيدي-)أوتسَرغا (Utsarga)؛ وكذلك عند تعليم شروتريا (śrotriya) من فرع الفيدا (śākhā) الخاصّ به؛ وأثناء دويّ الرعد والصاعقة وقت الشفق، وعند الزلزال، أو عند سقوط شهاب—فهذه مواضع تجري عليها القاعدة المذكورة في الإيقاف/الاستثناء من الدراسة والتلاوة.
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic ritual injunctions to Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Enumerates occasions affecting Vedic recitation/teaching—Upākarman, Utsarga, instruction to a śrotriya of one’s śākhā, and natural omens (twilight thunder, earthquake, meteor)—supporting compliance with anadhyāya/exception rules in daily Vedic life.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Anadhyāya triggers: rites, teaching contexts, and omens","lookup_keywords":["upākarman","utsarga","śrotriya","sandhyā-garjita","bhūkampa-ulkā"],"quick_summary":"Lists ritual and environmental conditions that govern suspension/exception in Vedic study: Upākarman/Utsarga contexts, teaching a śrotriya of one’s branch, and ominous disturbances like twilight thunder, earthquakes, and meteors. Practical takeaway: maintain a protocol to pause recitation during such times."}
Concept: Sacred learning is context-sensitive; dharma prescribes restraint in speech/recitation during liminal times and disruptive portents.
Application: Create institutional rules for pāṭhaśālās: suspend chanting during storms at sandhyā, earthquakes, meteor sightings; resume via prescribed rites (Upākarman/Utsarga) as applicable.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic rites and expiations / ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vedic class pauses as twilight thunder cracks; in the sky a meteor streaks, and the ground subtly trembles—teacher signals suspension while Upākarman/Utsarga ritual items are nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic twilight gradient, stylized lightning and meteor, guru and students in paused posture, ritual items arranged, bold outlines and symbolic depiction of earthquake ripples.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, twilight scene with gold leaf on lightning and meteor trail, figures under a decorative canopy, teacher gesturing to stop recitation, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: teacher indicating anadhyāya, small vignettes showing earthquake and meteor, clear depiction of manuscripts being closed, fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atmospheric dusk courtyard, meteor in detailed sky, subtle ground fissure motif, scholars reacting with restraint, intricate architecture and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cotsargaṃ → ca + utsargam; svaśākhāśrotriye → sva-śākhā-śrotriye; bhūkampolkānipātane → bhūkampa-ulkā-nipātane.
Related Themes: Agni Purana anadhyāya catalogues (sound/omen-based suspensions); Agni Purana Upākarman/Utsarga procedural passages
FAQs
It lists specific ritual occasions (Upākarman, Veda-Utsarga, instruction to a śrotriya of one’s own śākhā) and exceptional/inauspicious natural events (twilight thunder, earthquakes, meteor-falls) that govern when Vedic study/recitation is to be regulated—typically suspended (anadhyāya) or handled with prescribed exceptions.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa compiles practical dharma-śāstra style rules—here, a technical catalog of study-rites and omen-based restrictions—showing its coverage of day-to-day Vedic discipline, calendrical rites, and ritual law.
Observing anadhyāya/ritual exceptions preserves the purity (śuddhi) and efficacy (phala) of Vedic recitation; it prevents ritual fault (doṣa) and supports disciplined adherence to dharma during liminal or inauspicious conditions.