Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
अन्त्यजातिश्वपाकेन संस्पृष्टा स्त्री रजस्वला चतुर्थे ऽहनि शुद्धा सा त्रिरात्रं तत्र आचरेत्
antyajātiśvapākena saṃspṛṣṭā strī rajasvalā caturthe 'hani śuddhā sā trirātraṃ tatra ācaret
অন্ত্যজাতি শ্বপাকের স্পর্শে দূষিত ঋতুমতী নারী চতুর্থ দিনে শুদ্ধ হয়; তারপর সে সেখানে তিন রাত্রি নির্দিষ্ট নিয়মাচার পালন করবে।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Determining the duration and mode of śauca (ritual purity) observance after contact-based impurity during rajasvalā (menstruation), including time-counting and restraint rules.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rajasvalā-śuddhi after antyajāti/śvapāka-sparśa","lookup_keywords":["rajasvalā","śvapāka-sparśa","antyajāti","śuddhi","trirātra-ācāra"],"quick_summary":"If a menstruating woman is contaminated by contact with an outcaste (śvapāka/caṇḍāla), her purification is reckoned on the fourth day; thereafter she follows a three-night restraint/observance as prescribed for that condition."}
Concept: Śuddhi is time-bound and rule-governed; contact-impurity modifies the śauca schedule and requires restraint.
Application: Use as a decision-rule for household/ritual eligibility (cooking, worship, contact) by counting days and observing prescribed restraint.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Ashaucha & Shuddhi: rules of impurity and purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic ritual setting where a rajasvalā woman maintains separation and observes a three-night restraint after an impurity-causing touch; emphasis on temporal counting (fourth day) and household boundaries.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, interior of a traditional house with clear spatial separation, a woman seated apart with modest attire, attendants keeping distance, symbolic calendar marks for the fourth day and three nights, earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold leaf accents, a household śauca scene: woman seated on a low wooden seat apart, ritual vessels (kalaśa, water pot) placed at a distance, ornate borders, emphasis on auspicious/inauspicious demarcation using gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional tableau: labeled day-count (4th day) and three-night observance, clean linework, soft colors, minimal background, showing separation space and simple ritual implements for purity observance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature style, detailed domestic courtyard with attendants, a woman in seclusion area, subtle narrative of time passing (night lamps), fine textiles, architectural detailing, restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुर्थे ऽहनि = चतुर्थे अहनि (अ + अ → ऽ); तत्र आचरेत् = तत्र आचरेत् (no change in writing, hiatus).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (Aśauca-Śuddhi/Śauca-vidhi context)
FAQs
It gives a shuddhi-vidhi (purificatory rule): when a rajasvalā (menstruating woman) is considered purified after contact with an antyajāti/śvapāka, and it prescribes a three-night observance as the required regimen.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharma-shastra style regulations—detailed purity/impurity timelines and conduct—showing its wide coverage of social-ritual law.
The verse frames purity as a prerequisite for ritual and religious life; following the stated timeline and observance is treated as restoring ritual eligibility and reducing the fault (doṣa) associated with impurity/defilement.