Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 49
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
भाण्डानि तु परित्यज्य त्र्यहाद्भूलेपतः शुचिः न विप्रं स्वेषु तिष्ठत्सु मृतं शूद्रेण नाययेत्
bhāṇḍāni tu parityajya tryahādbhūlepataḥ śuciḥ na vipraṃ sveṣu tiṣṭhatsu mṛtaṃ śūdreṇa nāyayet
Having discarded the (contaminated) vessels, one becomes purified after three days by smearing the ground with earth. And when one’s own people are present, a deceased brāhmaṇa should not be carried to the cremation place by a Śūdra.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s common narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Guidance for purification after contamination: discarding affected utensils, earth-smearing for cleansing, and rules of who may carry a corpse to the cremation ground.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Purification by discarding vessels and earth-smearing; restriction on Śūdra carrying a brāhmaṇa corpse","lookup_keywords":["bhāṇḍa-parityāga","mṛd-lepana","tryaha-śauca","śava-vahana","varṇa-ācāra"],"quick_summary":"After contamination, discard the affected vessels and become pure after three days through earth-smearing; additionally, when one’s own people are present, a brāhmaṇa corpse should not be carried by a Śūdra."}
Concept: Purity is maintained through prescribed acts (tyāga, mṛd-lepana, time), and funerary roles follow social-ritual competency rules within the tradition.
Application: Apply as a household protocol: isolate/discard contaminated utensils, perform earth-smearing for three days, and assign corpse-carrying to appropriate kin/eligible persons when available.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Shauca-Ācāra (Purification and Funeral Conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A purification scene: contaminated vessels being set aside/discarded; the ground being smeared with earth; a funeral procession where kin carry the bier while a Śūdra stands aside when relatives are present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split-panel narrative: left—women/men discarding vessels near a washing area; center—earth-smearing of floor with ritual gestures; right—bier carried by kin, restrained figure at margin, flat iconic style, ochre and green tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-accented domestic floor being smeared with earth (mṛd), ritual vessels placed away, dignified figures in profile, ornate borders, lamp glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional composition: labeled items (bhāṇḍa, mṛd, tryaha), a priest demonstrating mṛd-lepana, and a schematic funeral carrying rule, delicate lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with fine detail: courtyard cleaning with earth paste, servants removing utensils, and a small funeral procession in the background, architectural perspective and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्र्यहात् = त्र्यहात् (त्रि + अह); भूलेपतः = भू + लेपतः; तिष्ठत्सु = तिष्ठत् + सु (सप्तमी बहुवचन). नाययेत् = न + आययेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (Śauca–Ācāra and aśauca measures); Agni Purana 158.50–52 (Antyeṣṭi handling and fire rules)
FAQs
It prescribes śauca measures after impurity—discarding contaminated utensils and purification after three days through earth-smearing—plus a rule about who may carry a deceased brāhmaṇa when relatives are available.
It shows the text functioning like a dharma manual: alongside theology, it codifies practical norms on purity, contamination, and funerary procedure—typical of the Agni Purāṇa’s wide-ranging, compendious scope.
Observing prescribed śauca and proper funerary roles is presented as maintaining ritual order (dharma), preventing the spread of impurity, and supporting the deceased’s rites through correctly performed duty.