Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
ऋतुसन्धिषु भुक्त्वा वा श्राद्विकं प्रतिगृह्य च पशुमण्डूकनकुलश्वाहिमार्जारशूकरैः
ṛtusandhiṣu bhuktvā vā śrādvikaṃ pratigṛhya ca paśumaṇḍūkanakulaśvāhimārjāraśūkaraiḥ
من أكل في أوقات التقاء الفصول، أو قبلَ قُربانًا متعلّقًا بطقس الشرادها (śrāddha)؛ وكذلك بسبب النجاسة الناشئة عن ملامسة البقر والضفادع والنمس والكلاب والحيات والقطط والخنازير—يُعدّ في حال عدم طهارة وتلزمه القيود.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Identify causes of aśauca/anadhyāya: eating at seasonal junctions, accepting śrāddha-related gifts, and impurity from contact with specified animals; apply purification and temporary restrictions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aśauca/niṣedha causes: ṛtu-sandhi, śrāddha-pratigraha, and animal-contact","lookup_keywords":["ritu sandhi bhukta","shraddha pratigraha","ashauca animals","pashu manduka nakula"],"quick_summary":"Seasonal junction eating, receiving śrāddha-connected offerings, and defilement from contact with certain animals are listed as triggers for impurity/restriction requiring observance of śauca rules."}
Concept: Śauca is maintained by regulating food-times, gifts (especially śrāddha-linked), and contact that is culturally coded as contaminating.
Application: Avoid accepting śrāddha-related items when ineligible; if contact occurs, follow one’s dharmaśāstric purification (snāna, ācamana, change of cloth, and time-bound restraint as prescribed).
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Shraddha-vidhi / Ashauca & Nishedha)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder at a seasonal junction meal, a śrāddha offering being presented, and nearby animals (cow, frog, mongoose, dog, snake, cat, pig) indicating sources of ritual impurity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych composition: ṛtu-sandhi meal, śrāddha gift exchange, and a row of animals symbolizing aśauca; bold outlines, flat planes, traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central śrāddha scene with gold ornamentation, side panels showing animals as symbolic emblems, rich reds and greens, decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout with labeled vignettes: ‘ṛtu-sandhi’, ‘śrāddha-pratigraha’, ‘sparśa-doṣa’; fine lines, soft colors, manuscript-like clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with detailed food service and ritual gifting; animals at margins; naturalistic rendering and intricate textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऋतुसन्धिषु = ऋतु + सन्धिषु (तत्पुरुष); पशुमण्डूक...शूकरैः is an itaretara-dvandva in instrumental plural.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 162 (aśauca/anadhyāya lists and contingencies)
FAQs
It lists impurity-triggering situations relevant to śrāddha and ritual conduct—eating at ṛtusandhi and accepting śrāddha-related items, as well as defilement associated with certain animals—indicating when restrictions or purification should be observed.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharma guidance: calendrical sensitivities (seasonal junctions), śrāddha protocol, and purity rules—showing it functions as a compendium of ritual law and daily religious practice.
It safeguards the sanctity of ancestral rites and purity-based observances; avoiding these impurity-causing acts (or performing proper expiation) is presented as necessary to keep rites efficacious and to prevent ritual fault (doṣa).