Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 65
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
समानं लघ्वशौचन्तु प्रथमेन समापयेत् असमानं द्वितीयेन धर्मराजवचो यथा
samānaṃ laghvaśaucantu prathamena samāpayet asamānaṃ dvitīyena dharmarājavaco yathā
Masa aśauca ringan yang sama hendaknya diselesaikan menurut aturan pertama; yang tidak sama menurut aturan kedua—sebagaimana sabda Dharmarāja (Yama).
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Applying a two-rule system for minor impurity periods—how to conclude equal vs unequal durations—citing Dharmarāja as authority; useful for administrators/priests standardizing practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Equal vs unequal laghu-ashaucha completion rules (Dharmarāja-vacana)","lookup_keywords":["laghu ashaucha","equal period","unequal period","Dharmarāja","Yama"],"quick_summary":"When minor impurity periods match, conclude by the first rule; when they do not match, conclude by the second rule—grounded in Dharmarāja’s authoritative statement."}
Concept: Dharma operates through calibrated rules; when cases differ (sama/viṣama), the method of completion changes under recognized authority (Yama/Dharmarāja).
Application: Helps resolve disputes in community practice about when laghu-ashaucha ends, supporting consistent ritual scheduling.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dharma-shastra (Ashauca–Shuddhi / Purity Regulations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A judge-like Dharmarāja motif in the background as a symbolic authority while a priest demonstrates two cases: equal and unequal minor impurity periods, shown as balanced vs unbalanced scales.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic Dharmarāja seated with staff and ledger in the upper register, below a priest shows two scale-panels ‘sama’ and ‘viṣama’ laghu-ashaucha, bold outlines and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Dharmarāja as regal figure with gold ornamentation, beneath him two gold-bordered panels illustrating equal vs unequal ashaucha completion, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional split-scene: left ‘sama’ case completed by ‘first rule’, right ‘asama’ by ‘second rule’, neat labels, manuscript and counting beads","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, legal consultation scene with a qazi-like pandit, marginal illustration of scales and two timelines, refined detailing and calligraphic captions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लघ्वशौचन्तु = लघु-अशौचम् + तु (m-sandhi: -m + t-); धर्मराजवचो = धर्मराजवचः (visarga sandhi before yathā)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158.63-64 (overlap and precedence); Agni Purana 158.66-67 (override and timing rules)
FAQs
It teaches how to conclude a minor aśauca (ritual impurity) period: if the case is “equal/matching,” apply the first rule; if “unequal,” apply the second rule, following Dharmarāja’s legal-religious injunction.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves Dharma-śāstra-style procedural rules—here, a technical distinction used to compute and finalize impurity periods, reflecting its wide coverage of social-religious law.
Correctly observing and concluding aśauca restores ritual eligibility and purity, aligning conduct with dharma and preventing fault (doṣa) in rites performed during or after impurity.