Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 61
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
सर्वेषां शावमाशौचं मातापित्रोश् च सूतकं सूतकं मातुरेव स्यादुपस्पृश्य पिता शुचिः
sarveṣāṃ śāvamāśaucaṃ mātāpitroś ca sūtakaṃ sūtakaṃ mātureva syādupaspṛśya pitā śuciḥ
Pour tous, il y a l’impureté due à la mort, l’impureté liée au cadavre (śāvāśauca) ; et pour la mère et le père, il y a l’impureté de naissance (sūtaka). Toutefois, le sūtaka ne concerne que la mère ; le père devient pur après une purification simple en touchant l’eau (upasparśa/ācamana).
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Clarifying who incurs death-impurity and birth-impurity, and specifying the father’s quick purification via ācamana/upasparśa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Allocation of sūtaka: mother’s impurity and father’s purification by upasparśa","lookup_keywords":["sūtaka","upasparśa","ācamana","mātā","pitā"],"quick_summary":"Death-impurity applies broadly, while birth-impurity affects parents; specifically, the mother bears sūtaka, and the father becomes pure after simple water-touch purification."}
Concept: Differentiated dharma obligations: impurity rules are role-specific, and purification can be graded (from extended observance to minimal ācamana).
Application: In household ritual scheduling, treat the mother’s sūtaka as binding while allowing the father’s rapid return to ritual eligibility after prescribed water purification.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Ashaucha & Shaucha: impurity and purification rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic scene after childbirth: the mother in seclusion under sūtaka observance, while the father performs ācamana (touching water) and resumes limited ritual duties.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior household scene, mother resting with attendants, father at a small water pot performing ācamana, muted colors, emphasis on ritual purity gestures","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold work on the water vessel and ritual tray, father shown in crisp profile doing ācamana, mother in a separate chamber, clear separation indicating sūtaka","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional close-up of upasparśa/ācamana hand gestures with water pot, secondary panel showing mother’s seclusion, fine lines and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed zenana and courtyard split composition, father performing ācamana near a fountain, mother attended indoors, realistic textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शावमाशौचं = शावम् + आशौचम्; मातापित्रोश् = मातापित्रोः + (च इत्यत्र विसर्ग-लोप); मातुरेव = मातुः + एव; स्यादुपस्पृश्य = स्यात् + उपस्पृश्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana: śauca/āśauca and ācamana rules in Dharma portions; śrāddha eligibility rules nearby
FAQs
It distinguishes two impurities—death-impurity (śāva-āśauca) and birth-impurity (sūtaka)—and states a practical rule: the father’s purification is achieved by simple water-touch/ācamana, while the mother bears the sūtaka.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana also preserves applied Dharma norms—household ritual law on purity/impurity—showing its coverage of social-religious procedure, not only mythic narrative.
It regulates participation in rites during periods of impurity, ensuring ritual acts are performed in a state of śauca (purity), which is traditionally held to protect the efficacy (phala) of worship and maintain dharmic order.