Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 28
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
अध्वानं प्रस्थितो विप्रः कान्तारे यद्यनूदके पक्वान्नेन गृहीतेन मूत्रोच्चारङ्करोति वै
adhvānaṃ prasthito vipraḥ kāntāre yadyanūdake pakvānnena gṛhītena mūtroccāraṅkaroti vai
Wenn ein Brāhmaṇa auf Reise gegangen ist und sich in einer Wildnis ohne Wasser befindet, soll er die Harnentleerung unter Verwendung der mitgenommenen gekochten Speise verrichten.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Contingency purity rule for travel: how to manage bodily functions (urination) when water is unavailable in wilderness, minimizing ritual impurity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Anūdaka-kāntāra yātrā-śauca: mūtra-vidhi","lookup_keywords":["adhvāna","kāntāra","anūdaka","mūtra","śauca-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"On journey in a waterless wilderness, a brāhmaṇa follows an emergency protocol for urination using carried cooked food, reflecting a pragmatic śauca adaptation when normal washing is impossible."}
Concept: Āpaddharma: dharma adapts to constraints while preserving intent of purity and restraint.
Application: When water is unavailable, follow sanctioned substitutes rather than abandoning śauca discipline entirely.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Shaucha-vidhi (Purity rules for travel and bodily functions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lone brāhmaṇa traveler in a dry wilderness, carrying a bundle of cooked food, observing a prescribed discreet urination protocol due to lack of water.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, arid forest path with sparse trees, traveler with staff and food bundle, minimalistic depiction emphasizing restraint and propriety, earthy pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, stylized wilderness with gold accents on travel gear, central figure in modest posture, symbolic waterless landscape (cracked earth).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional travel vignette: traveler, waterless setting, carried cooked food indicated clearly, diagram-like clarity without sensationalism.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape of scrub and rocks, traveler in profile with satchel, discreet composition indicating emergency observance, fine brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यद्यनूदके = यदि अनूदके; पक्वान्नेन = पक्व-अन्नेन; मूत्रोच्चारङ्करोति = मूत्र-उच्चारम् करोति.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (travel and bodily-function purity rules)
FAQs
It gives a shaucha (purity) workaround for travel: when no water is available in a wilderness, one is instructed to manage the act of urination using carried cooked food as an aid for cleanliness/covering in lieu of water.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves highly practical dharma guidance for everyday contingencies—here, hygiene and purity protocol during travel in a waterless region.
It aims to prevent impurity and inadvertent dharma-violation in unavoidable conditions; maintaining shaucha even while traveling is treated as supportive of personal purity and religious discipline.