Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 28
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
पीत्वा नवोदकं चैव पञ्चगव्येन शुद्ध्यति शवकूपोदकं पीत्वा त्रिरात्रेण विशुद्ध्यति
pītvā navodakaṃ caiva pañcagavyena śuddhyati śavakūpodakaṃ pītvā trirātreṇa viśuddhyati
নবোদক (তাজা জল) পান কৰিলে পঞ্চগব্য গ্ৰহণে শুদ্ধি হয়। শৱ-কূপৰ জল পান কৰিলে তিন ৰাতিত সম্পূৰ্ণ শুদ্ধি হয়।
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Determines purification methods and time-frames after drinking fresh water with pañcagavya, and after drinking water from a corpse-associated well (śava-kūpa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śuddhi after drinking navodaka and śava-kūpa water","lookup_keywords":["navodaka","śava-kūpa","pañcagavya","trirātra","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Fresh water intake is purified by pañcagavya; drinking from a corpse-well requires a three-night observance for complete purification."}
Concept: Purification is graded by the perceived impurity of the source; time (trirātra) functions as a purifier alongside prescribed substances.
Application: When a severe impurity is incurred, adopt a defined time-bound regimen rather than minimal token acts; treat source-contamination as more serious than ordinary intake.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Shaucha (Ritual Purification Rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two contrasted vignettes: (1) a person taking pañcagavya after drinking fresh water; (2) a dark, ominous well marked by a corpse-sign, with the practitioner observing a three-night vow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural split-scene: bright ‘navodaka’ vessel with lotus motif and a calm practitioner; adjacent darker ‘śava-kūpa’ well with warning symbols, three-night vigil implied by moon phases.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: luminous fresh-water pot with gold work; separate panel with a shadowed well; the practitioner shown in austerity posture, gold accents highlighting the purificatory bowl.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional diagram-like scene labeling navodaka, pañcagavya, and trirātra; gentle palette, clear sequencing of actions over three nights.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: realistic well architecture; attendants keeping distance; the penitent seated with a manuscript noting ‘trirātra’; subtle night-sky progression."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; नवोदकम् treated as karmadhāraya (नवम् उदकम्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (time-based expiations: trirātra, etc.)
FAQs
It prescribes specific expiations for impurity from drinking water: purification via pañcagavya for one case, and a three-night purification period for drinking water from a corpse-contaminated well.
It shows the text functioning like a dharma-manual, cataloging practical shaucha and prāyaścitta rules alongside other domains—illustrating the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, encyclopedic coverage of ritual law and daily conduct.
The verse frames impurity from contaminated intake as a karmically relevant fault remediable through defined expiation, restoring ritual eligibility and purity through prescribed cleansing measures.