Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3
Chapter 156 — द्रव्यशुद्धिः (Dravya-śuddhi) / Purification of Substances
अब्जानां चैव भाण्डानां सर्वस्याश्ममयस्य च शाकरज्जुमूलफलवैदलानां तथैव च
abjānāṃ caiva bhāṇḍānāṃ sarvasyāśmamayasya ca śākarajjumūlaphalavaidalānāṃ tathaiva ca
Likewise, this rule applies to water-born produce, to vessels and utensils, to everything made of stone, and also to vegetables, ropes, roots, fruits, and articles made of bamboo or reed.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic instructions to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Classifying goods/materials (aquatic produce, utensils, stone goods, vegetables, ropes, roots, fruits, bamboo items) for rules of handling, taxation, storage, trade, and purity regulations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dravya-varga: abja, bhāṇḍa, aśma, śāka, rajju, mūla-phala, vaidala","lookup_keywords":["abja","bhāṇḍa","aśmamaya","rajju","vaidala"],"quick_summary":"The verse extends the applicable rule to multiple commodity classes—water-born produce, utensils, stone items, vegetables, ropes, roots, fruits, and bamboo/reed articles—indicating broad coverage of dravya categories."}
Concept: Systematization (varga-vibhāga) is itself knowledge: by enumerating dravya classes, the text enables consistent rule-application across domains (ritual, economy, household).
Application: Create checklists for storehouses/temple kitchens: categorize items to apply the correct cleaning/handling or administrative rule uniformly.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vyavahara (Legal/Administrative rules; property and taxation categories)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A storeroom/market-like arrangement showing categorized goods: aquatic produce, utensils, stone vessels, vegetables, coiled ropes, roots and fruits, and bamboo/reed baskets—laid out as an enumerated set.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized still-life of categorized goods in horizontal registers; labels implied by gesture of a scribe/teacher; earthy greens and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate still-life with gold borders; baskets of fruits/roots, bamboo items, stone vessels; symmetrical composition like a temple storehouse inventory.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional inventory scene; neatly grouped items with a clerk holding a palm-leaf ledger; fine detailing of textures (stone, bamboo, rope).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bazaar/storehouse scene; merchants and a scribe; carefully rendered produce and utensils; architectural depth and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caiva → ca eva; sarvasyāśmamayasya → sarvasya aśmamayasya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 156 (Dravya-śuddhi)
FAQs
It enumerates categories of commodities/materials—water-born produce, utensils, stone goods, and plant-based items—used in legal/administrative contexts such as valuation, regulation, dues, or dispute-settlement rules applied elsewhere in the chapter.
By cataloging everyday materials (stoneware, basketry, produce, ropes, roots, fruits) alongside governance-oriented rules, it shows the text’s coverage beyond theology—into economics, trade goods, and practical jurisprudence.
Though primarily administrative, such classification supports dharmic order (dharma-saṃsthāpanā) by standardizing fair dealings and reducing harm and conflict in transactions, which is treated as a merit-bearing aspect of righteous governance.