Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 43
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
नारं स्पृष्ट्वास्थि सस्नेहं स्नात्वा विप्रो विशुद्ध्यति रथ्यार्कद्दमतोयेन अधीनाभेर्मृदोदकैः
nāraṃ spṛṣṭvāsthi sasnehaṃ snātvā vipro viśuddhyati rathyārkaddamatoyena adhīnābhermṛdodakaiḥ
Berührt ein Brāhmaṇa einen menschlichen Leichnam oder einen Knochen, an dem noch Fett oder Fleischreste haften, so wird er durch ein Bad gereinigt—sei es mit Straßenwasser, von der Sonne erwärmtem Wasser, schlammigem Wasser oder Wasser, das unterhalb des Nabels geschöpft wird.
Lord Agni (teaching ritual law to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Specifies acceptable water sources/qualities for purification bath after touching a corpse or greasy bone, including constrained or suboptimal waters when ideal water is unavailable.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Snāna-śuddhi waters for narāsthi-sparśa (corpse/bone contact)","lookup_keywords":["narāsthi","sasneha-asthi","snāna","rathyā-toya","adhonābhi-jala"],"quick_summary":"After touching a corpse or a bone with fleshy/oily residue, purification is by bathing, even using street-water, sun-warmed water, muddy water, or water drawn from below the navel level."}
Concept: Dharma provides graded, practical allowances (anukalpa) for purification when ideal resources are absent.
Application: In travel or scarcity, one may still complete śauca using available water types, maintaining ritual continuity.
Khanda Section: Śauca-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Impurity-Removal Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brāhmaṇa performs purification bath after contact with a corpse/bone; multiple water sources are shown as permissible—street runoff, sun-warmed pot, muddy pond, and low-drawn water—emphasizing allowance under constraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, four small vignettes around a central bathing figure: street channel water, pot kept in sunlight, muddy pond, and a low-held vessel below navel; bold outlines, earthy tones, clear symbolic labeling.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central figure bathing with gold-highlighted water pot; surrounding medallions depict the four water types; ornate frame and rich colors, emphasis on ritual legitimacy despite imperfect water.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional chart-like painting: icons for rathyā-toya, arka-tapta-jala, kardama-toya, adhonābhi-jala; neat composition, soft palette, precise detailing of vessels and water textures.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic ghāṭa and street scene with a small channel, a sunlit courtyard with pot, a muddy pool, and a figure drawing water low; fine brushwork and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्पृष्ट्वास्थि = स्पृष्ट्वा अस्थि (आ + अ → आ); रथ्यार्कद्दमतोयेन treated as multi-member compound; अधीनाभेर्मृदोदकैः = अधीनाभेः मृद्-उदकैः (ः + म् → र्म्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (water and bathing rules within Śauca-vidhi)
FAQs
It gives a practical śauca rule: after touching a human corpse or a bone with remaining greasy/fleshy matter, purification is achieved through snāna (ritual bathing), even using readily available waters (street-water, sun-warmed, muddy, etc.).
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied dharma—detailed hygiene and impurity-removal protocols—showing its wide coverage of social-religious law and daily-life ritual procedure.
It frames physical cleansing (snāna) as a dharmic method to remove aśauca (ritual impurity), restoring eligibility for rites, mantra-use, and sacred duties after contaminating contact.