Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
गुणोत्कर्षे दशाहाप्तौ त्र्यहमेकाहकं त्र्यहे एकाहाप्तौ सद्यः शौचं सर्वत्रैवं समूहयेत्
guṇotkarṣe daśāhāptau tryahamekāhakaṃ tryahe ekāhāptau sadyaḥ śaucaṃ sarvatraivaṃ samūhayet
Bila tingkat kedekatan hubungan lebih tinggi, masa aśauca berlangsung sepuluh hari; pada jenis tiga-hari menjadi satu hari; pada jenis satu-hari, penyucian terjadi seketika. Demikianlah kaidah ini hendaknya disusun secara sistematis dalam semua keadaan.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Classifying impurity periods by degree of connection/kinship and applying a consistent decision rule (10-day, 3-day, 1-day, or immediate).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"System for scaling aśauca by degree (daśāha/tryaha/ekāha/sadyaḥ-śauca)","lookup_keywords":["guṇotkarṣa","tryaha","ekāha","sadyaḥ śauca","aśauca nirṇaya"],"quick_summary":"Aśauca is scaled by closeness: higher connection yields up to ten days; lesser categories reduce to three, one, or immediate purification; apply the scheme uniformly across cases."}
Concept: Dharma operates through graded rules (tāratamya) and consistent systematization (saṅgraha/saṃgrahaṇa) rather than ad hoc practice.
Application: When uncertain, map the relationship to the nearest category (10/3/1/immediate) and apply the corresponding restrictions and restart time for rites.
Khanda Section: Dharma-śāstra / Āśauca-Śauca (Purification and impurity rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic teaching scene: a teacher draws a four-tier ladder of impurity durations (10, 3, 1, immediate) and explains how closeness increases the period.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru seated with stylus and palm-leaf, four-tier diagram behind, students attentive, restrained palette, emphasis on orderly gradation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted chart with four steps labeled daśāha/tryaha/ekāha/sadyaḥ, teacher in center, decorative frame, didactic sacred tone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, crisp instructional board showing decision-tree for aśauca durations, fine detailing of manuscripts and counting beads, calm scholarly setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a study circle, a chart on paper with neat numerals and Sanskrit labels, refined interior, emphasis on classification and method."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्र्यहम् + एकाहकम् → त्र्यहमेकाहकम् (अ + ए → ए). सर्वत्र + एवम् → सर्वत्रैवम् (अ + ए → ऐ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (classification of aśauca)
FAQs
It gives a graded rule for śauca (purification) after an āśauca period, indicating when the impurity lasts ten days, three days, one day, or ends immediately, based on the relative ‘degree’ (guṇa) of connection.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical dharma norms—here, a smṛti-like digest of impurity-and-purification timing—showing its coverage of social-ritual law as part of comprehensive Puranic knowledge.
Observing the correct duration of āśauca and performing śauca at the proper time is treated as maintaining ritual and moral order (dharma), supporting eligibility for rites and protecting the performer from the demerit of improper observance.