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
Après avoir accompli la purification (śauca) et, avec de la terre/argile, fait l’ācamana (gorgée rituelle de purification), on doit pratiquer régulièrement le nettoyage des dents. Il est classé en acte quotidien, occasionnel et accompli par désir ; il est un membre auxiliaire des rites, servant à ôter les souillures.
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.