Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 47
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
प्रेतीभूतं द्विजः शूद्रमनुगच्छंस्त्र्यहाच्छुचिः मृतस्य बान्धवैः सार्धं कृत्वा च परिदेवनं
pretībhūtaṃ dvijaḥ śūdramanugacchaṃstryahācchuciḥ mṛtasya bāndhavaiḥ sārdhaṃ kṛtvā ca paridevanaṃ
Un dvija (né deux fois) qui suit le cortège funèbre d’un śūdra devenu preta est purifié au bout de trois jours, après avoir accompli, avec les parents du défunt, la lamentation rituelle du deuil (paridevana).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Specifies impurity duration for a twice-born who joins a Śūdra’s funeral and participates in mourning; clarifies conduct and purification timeline.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Three-day purification for a twice-born attending a Śūdra’s funeral and lamentation","lookup_keywords":["śūdra-antyeṣṭi","trirātra-śauca","paridevana","funeral-procession","dvija"],"quick_summary":"A twice-born who follows the funeral of a Śūdra and joins the relatives in mourning lamentation becomes pure after three days."}
Concept: Dharma regulates compassionate participation across social boundaries through defined, limited impurity and purification.
Application: If attending such a funeral and mourning, observe the three-day śauca and then resume rites after purification.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Antyeshti-vidhi (Funerary rites and post-death impurity rules)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A twice-born man walking with a Śūdra funeral procession, joining relatives in paridevana (lamentation), then observing three days before purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, funeral procession moving toward cremation ground, group lamentation with stylized gestures, dvija figure respectfully participating, three-day motif shown as three lamps or three panels, earthy solemn tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on ritual fire and vessels, procession and lamentation scene, emphasis on dharmic participation and subsequent purification, rich background with ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic sequence: procession → paridevana with relatives → three-day waiting → bath, clear facial expressions and minimal background clutter","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed crowd scene with mourners, expressive lamentation, cremation ground elements, refined architecture/landscape, subdued palette to convey grief"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pretībhūtaṃ = pretī-bhūtam; śūdramanugacchan = śūdram anugacchan; tryahācchuciḥ = tryahāt śuciḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (śauca durations by contact and participation)
FAQs
It specifies an aśauca (ritual impurity) duration and its resolution: if a dvija accompanies a Śūdra’s funeral and participates in mourning (paridevana) with the relatives, purification is attained after three days.
Alongside theology and devotion, the Agni Purana preserves practical Dharma-śāstra material—codifying funerary procedure, impurity periods, and social-ritual conduct—showing its broad, handbook-like scope.
It frames funerary participation and mourning as regulated acts that can incur temporary impurity, but also as dutiful conduct that—when performed properly—leads to timely purification and restoration of ritual eligibility.