Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 44
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
यः कश्चित्तु हरेत् प्रेतमसपिण्डं कथञ्चन स्नात्वा स्चेलः स्पृष्ट्वाग्निं घृतं प्राश्य विशुद्ध्यति
yaḥ kaścittu haret pretamasapiṇḍaṃ kathañcana snātvā scelaḥ spṛṣṭvāgniṃ ghṛtaṃ prāśya viśuddhyati
Whoever, in any manner, removes or carries away a dead body that is not of one’s own sapinda-kin becomes purified by bathing while keeping one’s clothes on, by touching fire, and by consuming ghee.
Lord Agni (narrating purificatory rules, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Gives a practical purification protocol for those who must handle a non-sapinda corpse (public duty, emergency, community service).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Purification after carrying a non-sapinda corpse: bath with clothes, touch fire, consume ghee","lookup_keywords":["asapiṇḍa-preta","śauca","snāna","agni-sparśa","ghṛta-prāśana"],"quick_summary":"If one removes/carries a corpse not belonging to one’s sapinda kin, purification is achieved by bathing (with clothes on), touching fire, and ingesting ghee."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Social necessity (handling the dead) is reconciled with purity through defined expiatory acts.
Application: Enables community members to perform necessary services without long-term ritual disability by following a clear śauca protocol.
Khanda Section: Shaucha-Prayashchitta (Purification and expiation rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person carrying a corpse on a bier, then bathing (still clothed), touching a sacred fire, and sipping ghee as purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential panels: bier-bearer at cremation ground, then river-bath with cloth on, then hand extended to sacred fire, then ritual sipping of ghee from a small vessel, warm ochres and deep greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf on fire altar and ghee vessel, central figure performing agni-sparśa, attendants near a riverbank, ornate yet solemn composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional triptych layout: snāna-with-clothes, agni-touch, ghṛta-prāśana, clear gestures and labeled ritual objects, soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic river bathing scene with garments, detailed fire brazier, small ghee cup, fine facial expressions of solemn duty"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kaścittu = kaścit tu; pretamasapiṇḍaṃ = pretam a-sapiṇḍam; scelaḥ = sa-celaḥ; spṛṣṭvāgniṃ = spṛṣṭvā agnim.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (śauca rules around corpses and contact)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific śauca/prāyaścitta sequence—bath (snāna), remaining clothed (sacela), contact with fire (agni-sparśa), and ingestion of ghee (ghṛta-prāśana)—to remove impurity incurred by handling a non-sapinda corpse.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana also codifies practical dharma topics such as ritual impurity, kinship categories (sapinda), and concrete expiation methods—showing its coverage of social-religious law and daily-life ritual procedure.
Handling the dead can create aśauca (ritual impurity); the verse frames purification as restoring ritual fitness and dharmic order through Agni (a purifier) and ghṛta (a sanctifying oblation/food), thereby neutralizing the impurity’s karmic-religious effects.