Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 11
Duties outside the Varṇa Order (वर्णेतरधर्माः) — Agni Purana, Chapter 151
चण्डालो ब्राह्मणीपुत्रः शूद्राच्च प्रतिलोमतः सूतस्तु क्षत्रियाज्जातो वैश्याद्वै देवलस् तथा
caṇḍālo brāhmaṇīputraḥ śūdrācca pratilomataḥ sūtastu kṣatriyājjāto vaiśyādvai devalas tathā
ব্ৰাহ্মণী নাৰীৰ সৈতে শূদ্ৰ পুৰুষৰ প্ৰতিলোম সংযোগত জন্ম হোৱা পুত্ৰক চণ্ডাল বোলা হয়। ক্ষত্ৰিয় পিতা আৰু বৈশ্যা মাতাৰ গৰ্ভত সূত জন্মে; তদ্ৰূপ দেবলও মিশ্ৰবৰ্ণ শ্ৰেণীত গণ্য।
Lord Agni (narrating Dharma classifications within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Used by jurists/administrators to classify varṇa-saṅkara lineages for determining permissible marriage circles, occupations, and social/legal liabilities in a traditional dharma framework.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pratiloma/Anuloma progeny names: Caṇḍāla, Sūta, Devala","lookup_keywords":["Caṇḍāla","Sūta","Devala","pratiloma","varṇa-saṅkara"],"quick_summary":"Defines specific mixed-lineage designations arising from particular parental varṇa combinations; serves as a lookup for social-law classification and downstream rules (vivāha/ācāra/karma)."}
Concept: Varṇa-saṅkara nomenclature and the dharma-text method of mapping social status through parentage (anuloma/pratiloma).
Application: Applied (within the text’s worldview) to decide community boundaries, ritual eligibility, and marriage compatibility.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Varna-jati-nirnaya (Social law and mixed-caste classifications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic, courtly ‘dharma-assembly’ scene: a teacher/judge recites lineage classifications while scribes record names like Caṇḍāla, Sūta, Devala in a palm-leaf register; families stand in ordered rows indicating parentage combinations.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, dharma-sabha interior, seated rishi-like jurist with palm-leaf manuscript, attendants holding stylus and ola leaves, orderly rows of figures symbolizing mixed parentage, earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition, temple-wall aesthetic.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central dharma-ācārya on a throne-like seat with ornate arch, gold-leaf highlights on manuscript and jewelry, side panels showing labeled figures ‘Sūta’ and ‘Caṇḍāla’ as symbolic vignettes, rich maroons and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau with a neat chart-like scroll listing Caṇḍāla/Sūta/Devala, fine linework, soft shading, scholar-judge pointing to the list, calm classroom/court ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a qazi-like dharma judge in a pavilion with scribes, delicate borders, calligraphic labels for Caṇḍāla/Sūta/Devala, small grouped figures representing parentage, detailed textiles and architectural lattice."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शूद्राच्च = शूद्रात् + च; क्षत्रियाज्जातो = क्षत्रियात् + जातः; वैश्याद्वै = वैश्यात् + वै; देवलस् = देवलः (visarga sandhi before त).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 151 (Varṇa-jāti-nirṇaya sections on anuloma/pratiloma and occupational duties)
FAQs
It gives Dharmaśāstra-style technical taxonomy: how specific mixed-union lineages are named (e.g., Caṇḍāla as pratiloma), and how groups like Sūta/Devala are classified in varṇa-saṅkara discussions.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves social-legal classifications found in Smṛti traditions—cataloging terms like pratiloma and named communities (Caṇḍāla, Sūta, Devala) as part of its broad compendium.
In Dharma frameworks, naming pratiloma outcomes signals socially and ritually restricted status, affecting eligibility for rites and communal duties; the verse functions as a classificatory rule used to interpret karmic/social consequences within traditional law codes.