Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 37
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
मैथुनन्तु समासेव्य पुंसि योषिति वा द्विजः गोयाने ऽप्सु दिवा चैव सवासाः स्नानमाचरेत्
maithunantu samāsevya puṃsi yoṣiti vā dvijaḥ goyāne 'psu divā caiva savāsāḥ snānamācaret
মৈথুনের পর—পুরুষ বা নারীর সঙ্গে—দ্বিজের উচিত গো-স্থান/গোশালা-সম্পর্কিত স্থানে, জলে, দিবাকালে, বস্ত্র পরিহিত অবস্থায় শুদ্ধিস্নান করা।
Lord Agni (narrating purificatory dharma to Sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Post-coital śauca (ritual purity) protocol for dvija householders: timing (daytime), medium (water), and manner (sā-vāsas, clothed) to restore ritual eligibility for daily rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sā-vāsas snāna after maithuna (post-coital purification)","lookup_keywords":["maithuna","snāna","śauca","sā-vāsas","divā"],"quick_summary":"After sexual intercourse, a dvija should perform a daytime bath in water while still clothed, as a śauca measure to regain ritual purity for Vedic duties."}
Concept: Ritual purity is restored through regulated bathing (snāna) with correct time, place, and manner.
Application: Schedule snāna and subsequent nitya-karma (sandhyā, agnihotra, japa) only after completing the prescribed śauca.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Shauca-vidhi (Purification and expiatory bathing rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija householder stands in a water-body during daytime, still clothed, performing a ritual bath as expiation after maithuna; a cowshed/cattle enclosure is indicated nearby as the prescribed setting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, daytime riverbank near a cowshed, a dvija in white garments performing sā-vāsas snāna, attendants and cattle in the background, flat earthy palette, bold outlines, sacred domestic austerity mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure of a dvija performing ritual bath clothed, stylized water ripples, small cowshed motif with cattle, gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels and border, devotional-ritual ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional composition: labeled elements—daytime sun, water-body, clothed bath, cowshed/cattle pen—fine lines, soft colors, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard near a cattle pen with a water tank, a learned dvija bathing clothed, detailed textiles and architecture, naturalistic cattle, bright daylight, documentary tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: maithunam+tu→maithunantu; goyāne+apsu→goyāne 'psu; sa+vāsāḥ→savāsāḥ; snānam+ācaret→snānamācaret
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (Śauca-vidhi and prāyaścitta sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific purificatory procedure after sexual intercourse: a daytime bath in water, performed while clothed (savāsāḥ snāna), with an additional location-condition expressed as goyāne.
Alongside theology and mythology, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma—minute rules of bodily purity, timing (daytime), and method (clothed bathing)—showing its coverage of lived religious law and ritual hygiene.
The instruction frames post-intercourse bathing as shauca (purificatory discipline), restoring ritual fitness for worship, recitation, and other dharmic acts by removing contact-based impurity through prescribed snāna.