Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 5
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
कुर्यान्मृते नृपे नात्र कालस्य नियमः स्मृतः तिलैः सिद्धार्थकैः स्नानं सांवत्सरपुरोहितौ
kuryānmṛte nṛpe nātra kālasya niyamaḥ smṛtaḥ tilaiḥ siddhārthakaiḥ snānaṃ sāṃvatsarapurohitau
Bila seorang raja wafat, upacara yang ditetapkan hendaknya dilakukan; di sini tidak diajarkan pembatasan waktu. Mandi suci dilakukan dengan biji wijen dan siddhārthaka (sesawi putih); dan ketentuan ini berkaitan dengan imam tahunan (sāṃvatsara) serta purohita.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guides immediate post-death royal rite handling: no time restriction, and specifies purificatory bathing substances (tila, siddhārthaka) and officiant roles—useful for funeral/impurity management protocols in royal households.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nṛpa-maraṇa-kārya—akāla-niyama and tila-siddhārthaka-snāna","lookup_keywords":["aśauca","tila","siddhārthaka","snāna","purohita"],"quick_summary":"Upon a king’s death, the required rite is performed without waiting for a specific time; purification includes bathing with sesame and white mustard, under the yearly priest and the royal chaplain."}
Concept: In exceptional dharma-events (death of a king), procedural urgency overrides ordinary timing constraints; purity-restoration is institutional and role-governed.
Application: Maintain an emergency rite protocol for leadership death: immediate authorized actions, designated officiants, and standardized purification materials.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Śrāddha-vidhi (Royal rites, death-impurity, expiations)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn palace purification after the king’s death: priests prepare a bath with sesame and white mustard; the yearly priest and purohita oversee rites, with mourners and ritual vessels nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, somber palace courtyard, priests with kalasha and bowls of sesame and white mustard, mourners in restrained poses, muted earthy palette, iconic ritual clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, dignified purification scene with priests and ritual vessels, gold accents on lamps and vessels, subdued expressions, ornate but restrained setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional depiction of snāna preparation: sesame and mustard shown clearly, priests labeled as sāṃvatsara and purohita, stepwise arrangement of vessels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace interior with attendants, priests preparing cleansing bath, detailed textiles and vessels, subdued color scheme reflecting mourning"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्यान्मृते → कुर्यात् मृते; नात्र → न अत्र.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: śrāddha/aśauca and prāyaścitta sections (related impurity and expiation rules); Agni Purana: abhiṣeka succession context (transition after king’s death)
FAQs
It prescribes an immediate, time-unrestricted purification procedure connected with a king’s death, specifying a ritual bath (snāna) using tilā (sesame) and siddhārthaka (white mustard), and situating the duty within the domain of the appointed royal priests (sāṃvatsara and purohita).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma/administrative coverage by detailing governance-adjacent ritual law—how state-linked religious functionaries respond to a king’s death—thus blending rājadharma (polity) with śauca and prāyaścitta (purificatory jurisprudence).
The verse frames the act as urgent and universally applicable (“no time restriction”), emphasizing prompt purification to remove death-associated impurity (aśauca) and restore ritual fitness, thereby protecting communal order and the merit-bearing continuity of royal-sacral duties.