Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 28
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
अर्वाक्सपिण्डीकरणं यस्य संवत्सराद् भवेत् पितृपूर्वं विसर्जयेदिति ख , छ , झ च स्त्र्या अपीति ख , छ च तस्याप्यन्नं सोदकुम्भं दद्यात् संवत्सरं द्विजे
arvāksapiṇḍīkaraṇaṃ yasya saṃvatsarād bhavet pitṛpūrvaṃ visarjayediti kha , cha , jha ca stryā apīti kha , cha ca tasyāpyannaṃ sodakumbhaṃ dadyāt saṃvatsaraṃ dvije
जिसका सपिण्डीकरण संवत्सर पूर्ण होने से पहले हो, वह पहले पितरों का विसर्जन करे—ऐसा ख, छ, झ पाठ कहते हैं। स्त्री के विषय में भी—ऐसा ख और छ कहते हैं। उस व्यक्ति के लिए भी एक वर्ष तक ब्राह्मण को अन्न तथा जल-कलश सहित दान देना चाहिए।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"To handle exceptional timing (performing sapiṇḍīkaraṇa before one year) by first dismissing the pitṛs, and to maintain annual dāna support (food with water-pot) to a Brahmin for the deceased, including prescriptions for women per certain recensions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Early Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa (Before One Year): Priority of Pitṛ-Visarjana and Annual Dāna (Anna + Udaka-kumbha)","lookup_keywords":["arvāk-sapiṇḍīkaraṇa","saṃvatsara","pitṛ-visarjana","udaka-kumbha","recensions kha cha jha"],"quick_summary":"If sapiṇḍīkaraṇa is done before a year, pitṛ-visarjana is to be performed first (per certain recensions). Additionally, for a year one should give food with a water-pot to a Brahmin on behalf of the deceased, with some recensions extending this explicitly to women."}
Concept: Dharma adapts via apavāda (exceptions): when timing deviates, priority rules and compensatory observances (annual dāna) preserve ritual integrity and welfare of the departed.
Application: Guides families in non-standard circumstances (early sapiṇḍīkaraṇa) and establishes a concrete year-long charitable regimen supporting śrāddha intent.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-kārya and funerary rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual scene indicating early sapiṇḍīkaraṇa: pitṛs are formally dismissed first; then a Brahmin receives a meal and a water-pot as a recurring annual charity on behalf of the deceased (including a woman in some traditions).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-part narrative panel: first pitṛ-visarjana gesture at altar, second a Brahmin receiving anna and an udaka-kumbha, calendar/season motifs indicating 'saṃvatsara', traditional borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embellished water-pot (udaka-kumbha) and food offering, donor family presenting dāna to a seated Brahmin, auspicious lamps, rich colors, emphasis on charity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional split-scene: (1) pitṛ-visarjana first, (2) annual dāna of food + water-pot; clear objects and sequencing, minimal decorative distraction","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined dāna scene with detailed pottery and food trays, donor offering to Brahmin, subtle marginal note indicating 'one year', elegant architectural backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्वाक्+सपिण्डीकरणम् → अर्वाक्सपिण्डीकरणम्; संवत्सरात् (ablative) before भवेत्; विसर्जयेत्+इति → विसर्जयेदिति; स्त्र्या+अपि → स्त्र्या अपि; तस्य+अपि → तस्यापि; स+उदकुम्भम् → सोदकुम्भम्. Manuscript markers (ख, छ, झ) treated as indeclinable textual sigla.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163.25 (pitṛ-visarjana formulas); Agni Purana 163.27 (sapiṇḍīkaraṇa identification)
FAQs
It prescribes procedure for early (pre-one-year) sapiṇḍīkaraṇa: perform Pitṛ-visarjana first, and maintain a year-long charity/feeding provision—food with a water-pot—given to a Brahmin.
It records detailed, rule-like ritual jurisprudence (śrāddha and post-death rites), including variant readings across recensions, showing the text’s compendium-style coverage of practical dharma and ritual administration.
Correct sequencing of Pitṛ rites and sustained dāna is presented as ensuring proper integration of the departed into the ancestral order and supporting the deceased’s onward welfare, while also accruing merit (puṇya) to the performer through sanctioned charity.