Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
विशुद्धिः कथितेति घ , ङ , ञ च द्विषट्ककमिति ट क्षत्रियो नवसप्ताहच्छुद्ध्येद्विप्रो गुणैर् युतः दशाहात् सगुणो वैश्यो विंशाहाच्छूद्र एव च
viśuddhiḥ kathiteti gha , ṅa , ña ca dviṣaṭkakamiti ṭa kṣatriyo navasaptāhacchuddhyedvipro guṇair yutaḥ daśāhāt saguṇo vaiśyo viṃśāhācchūdra eva ca
La purification complète est énoncée (selon les marqueurs grammaticaux indiqués) : un kṣatriya est purifié après neuf jours ; un brāhmaṇa doté des qualités prescrites est purifié après sept jours. Un vaiśya possédant les qualités (requises) est purifié après dix jours, et un śūdra après vingt jours.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s dharma instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Applying a graded schedule of purification (śuddhi) durations by varṇa and qualification (guṇa-yukta), and noting textual/recensional markers—useful for ritual adjudication and manuscript-based instruction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śuddhi Durations by Varṇa and Guṇa (7/9/10/20 days) with Textual Markers","lookup_keywords":["viśuddhi","śuddhi-kāla","guṇa-yukta","kṣatriya navāha","śūdra viṃśāha"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists purification periods: kṣatriya 9 days; brāhmaṇa with prescribed qualities 7 days; vaiśya with qualities 10 days; śūdra 20 days, with mention of grammatical/recensional markers indicating a textual tradition."}
Concept: Purification is both time-based and qualification-sensitive (guṇa-yukta), reflecting dharma’s concern with conduct/fitness alongside social category.
Application: When determining the end of aśauca/śuddhi, consider both varṇa and the stated ‘guṇa’ qualification, then schedule resumption of rites accordingly.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Ashauca-śuddhi (Purification rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript-teaching scene: a teacher points to a palm-leaf list of śuddhi durations (7, 9, 10, 20) with marginal letter markers; four representative figures stand in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, gurukula setting with palm-leaf manuscript showing letter markers, four figures in orderly row, teacher gesturing to the śuddhi list, calm scholastic mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, manuscript and stylus highlighted with gold, four framed figures labeled with day counts, ornate border but instructional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean diagrammatic layout: table of varṇa vs days (brāhmaṇa 7, kṣatriya 9, vaiśya 10, śūdra 20), with small note-like letter markers (gh/ṅ/ñ/ṭ) in margins.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scribe and teacher examining a manuscript with marginalia, four attendees representing social categories, fine detail on script and annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नवसप्ताहच्छुद्ध्येद्विप्रो → नवसप्ताहात् + शुद्ध्येत् + विप्रः; गुणैर् युतः → गुणैः + युतः; विंशाहाच्छूद्र → विंशाहात् + शूद्रः. Initial segment ‘विशुद्धिः कथितेति घ, ङ, ञ…’ and ‘…इति ट’ appear as metrical/section markers (varṇa-sūcaka) in some recensions; treated as indeclinable markers.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (śuddhi lists and aśauca rules)
FAQs
It gives the prescribed time-periods for becoming ritually purified (śuddhi) after a state of impurity (aśauca), differentiated by varṇa and qualification (guṇa).
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana also preserves smṛti-like legal-ritual regulations—here, practical dharma rules governing impurity and purification, a key component of social and ritual order.
Observing the correct purification period is treated as maintaining ritual purity and dharmic conduct, supporting eligibility for rites (karma) and preventing fault (doṣa) in religious observances.