Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 9
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
स्रोतोवहाधोगमनं स्नानं गोमयवारिणा पङ्कोदकेन च तथा मशीतोयेन वाप्यथ
srotovahādhogamanaṃ snānaṃ gomayavāriṇā paṅkodakena ca tathā maśītoyena vāpyatha
La purification s’accomplit aussi en se déplaçant vers l’aval le long d’un cours d’eau, et en se baignant avec de l’eau mêlée de bouse de vache; de même avec de l’eau boueuse, ou même avec de l’eau mêlée de cendre.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Ritual purification (śauca) methods for impurity contingencies: downstream movement in a watercourse and bathing with specific cleansing media (gomaya-water, muddy water, ash-water) when standard water is constrained or as prescribed expiation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śauca by Snāna: Gomaya-jala, Paṅkodaka, and Bhasma-jala","lookup_keywords":["shauca","snana","gomaya","pankodaka","bhasma-toya"],"quick_summary":"Purification may be effected by moving downstream in flowing water and by bathing with cow-dung water, muddy water, or ash-mixed water as cleansing substitutes/remedies."}
Concept: External purity can be restored through prescribed media and actions; dharma provides graded options when ideal resources are unavailable.
Application: Choose purification method proportionate to impurity and context; use flowing water preferentially, otherwise employ prescribed cleansing mixtures.
Khanda Section: Shauca-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Expiations)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person performing purification: walking along a river downstream and bathing; vessels of gomaya-water, muddy water, and ash-water shown as alternative cleansing agents.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, riverbank purification scene, figure stepping downstream in flowing river, attendants holding pots labeled gomaya-jala and bhasma-jala, earthy palette, stylized waves and flora","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, river snāna with gold accents on water pots and garments, symbolic purity motifs (lotus), frontal composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional layout: river flow arrow indicating downstream, three vessels (gomaya, paṅka, bhasma) with fine detailing, calm background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic river landscape, bather at ghāt, attendants with bowls of ash-water and muddy water, delicate vegetation and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्रोतः-वह-अधः-गमनम् → स्रोतोवहाधोगमनम्; पङ्क-उदकेन → पङ्कोदकेन; वा + अपि + अथ → वाप्यथ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Śauca and prāyaścitta procedures; Agni Purana: Snāna/ācāra rules in dharma sections
FAQs
It teaches specific śauca (purificatory) methods: downstream movement in a flowing stream and ritual bathing using gomaya-water, muddy water, or ash-water as cleansing media.
It preserves practical dharma-ritual protocols (śauca/prāyaścitta) alongside other disciplines, showing the text’s wide coverage of applied religious law and daily-life purity rules.
These acts are presented as means to remove ritual impurity and mitigate fault (doṣa), restoring eligibility for worship, rites, and socially sanctioned conduct.