Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3

Chapter 153 — Brahmacarya-āśrama-dharma

The Dharma of the Student Stage

Devanagari script

षष्ठे ऽष्टमे वा सीमन्तं पुत्रीयं नामभं शुभं अच्छिन्ननाड्यां कर्तव्यं जातकर्म विचक्षणैः

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhe 'ṣṭame vā sīmantaṃ putrīyaṃ nāmabhaṃ śubhaṃ acchinnanāḍyāṃ kartavyaṃ jātakarma vicakṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

Au sixième, ou bien au huitième mois, on doit accomplir le rite du sīmanta ; ensuite, on donnera un nom de bon augure, favorable à la descendance. Le jātakarma doit être accompli par les savants tant que le cordon ombilical n’est pas encore coupé.

Word by Word

• ṣaṣṭhe: in the sixth
• ṣaṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं); ordinal adjective used adverbially: 'in the sixth (month/day)'

• aṣṭame: in the eighth
• aṣṭame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं); ordinal adjective used adverbially: 'in the eighth'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; vikalpa-artha particle (विकल्पार्थ)

• sīmantaṃ: the sīmanta rite (parting-of-hair ceremony)
• sīmantaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sīmanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• putrīyaṃ: for obtaining a son
• putrīyaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putrīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying sīmantaṃ

• nāma-bham: the name-asterism (naming star/constellation)
• nāma-bham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman + bha (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: nāmnaḥ bham = 'name-asterism/name-star'

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying nāmabham

• acchinna-nāḍyām: while the cord is uncut
• acchinna-nāḍyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-cchinna + nāḍī (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'unbroken cord/umbilical cord'

• kartavyam: should be performed
• kartavyam: Vidhi/Prayojya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); predicate: 'is to be done'

• jāta-karma: the birth-rite (jātakarma)
• jāta-karma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāta + karma (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya/tatpuruṣa in usage: 'birth-rite'

• vicakṣaṇaiḥ: by the wise/experts
• vicakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating the saṁskāra procedures, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: ’ṣṭame = aṣṭame; nāmabhaṃ treated as nāma-bham (tatpuruṣa); acchinnanāḍyāṃ = acchinna-nāḍyām; jātakarma = jāta-karma.

Characters & Entities

• Sīmanta (Sīmanta-unnayana)
• Jātakarma
• Nāmakaraṇa (implied)
• Nāḍī (umbilical cord)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It prescribes timing and procedure for key saṁskāras: performing sīmanta in the 6th or 8th month, choosing an auspicious progeny-benefiting name, and conducting jātakarma before the umbilical cord is cut.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside theology and devotion, the Agni Purana codifies practical domestic dharma—pregnancy rites, childbirth sacraments, and naming conventions—showing its coverage of applied ritual life in addition to philosophy and myth.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

These saṁskāras are purification and auspiciousness rites intended to sanctify conception, birth, and identity, aligning the child’s entry into life with dharmic order and favorable merit (puṇya).