Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3
Ācāra
Right Conduct
शौचं कृत्वा मृदाचम्य भक्षयेद्दन्तधावनं नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं क्रियाङ्गं मलकर्षणं
śaucaṃ kṛtvā mṛdācamya bhakṣayeddantadhāvanaṃ nityaṃ naimittikaṃ kāmyaṃ kriyāṅgaṃ malakarṣaṇaṃ
Tras realizar la purificación (śauca) y, con tierra/arcilla, efectuar el ācamana (sorbo ritual para la limpieza), debe emprenderse regularmente el aseo de los dientes. Se clasifica como práctica diaria, ocasional y motivada por deseo; es un miembro auxiliar de los ritos, destinado a raspar y remover las impurezas.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Daily ritual hygiene sequence: śauca, mṛd-ācamana, and danta-dhāvana; classification of acts as nitya/naimittika/kāmya and as kriyā-aṅga for purity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Danta-dhāvana as kriyā-aṅga; nitya–naimittika–kāmya classification","lookup_keywords":["śauca","mṛd-ācamana","danta-dhāvana","nitya-naimittika-kāmya","mala-karṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"After purification and clay-assisted ācamana, one should perform tooth-cleaning. Such cleansing acts function as auxiliaries to rites and are categorized as daily, occasional, or desire-motivated, with the aim of removing impurity."}
Concept: Śauca is both ethical and ritual: bodily cleanliness supports karmāṅga (auxiliary limbs) and thereby supports the fruit of rites.
Application: Adopt a consistent morning hygiene-ritual sequence; treat cleanliness as part of sādhanā rather than merely personal grooming.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Achara (Daily Purification and Ritual Hygiene)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A morning routine sequence: a practitioner performs śauca, then ācamana with clean clay/earth, then tooth-cleaning, shown as a step-by-step ritual hygiene panel.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, three-panel narrative: (1) śauca, (2) ācamana with small clay bowl, (3) danta-dhāvana; warm ochres and greens, stylized gestures, temple-courtyard setting, didactic clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents, central figure with ritual vessels (pātra, kamaṇḍalu), small side vignettes for clay ācamana and tooth-cleaning, ornate frame, saturated colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like composition with labeled steps: śauca → mṛd-ācamana → danta-dhāvana; fine lines, soft palette, emphasis on implements and hand positions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard at dawn, detailed utensils and water pot, figure performing ācamana and tooth-cleaning, realistic textures, gentle morning light"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मृदाचम्य = मृदा + आचम्य; भक्षयेद्दन्तधावनम् = भक्षयेत् + दन्तधावनम्; क्रियाङ्गम् = क्रिया + अङ्गम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi: ācamana-lakṣaṇa, śauca-vidhi, snāna-vidhi (adjacent verses/sections)
FAQs
It teaches śauca-vidhi: after cleansing and performing ācamana with mṛd (purifying earth/clay), one should perform dantadhāvana (tooth-cleaning) as a regulated practice connected to ritual purity.
By codifying practical daily hygiene within ritual taxonomy (nitya/naimittika/kāmya) and calling it a kriyāṅga, the text integrates bodily cleanliness into dharma and ritual science—showing its broad, manual-like coverage of conduct.
It frames tooth-cleaning and related cleansing as purity-producing acts that support the efficacy of rites; removing mala (impurity) prepares the practitioner for worship and other dharmic actions.