Shloka 26
द्रौपदी–सत्यभामा संवादः
Draupadī and Satyabhāmā on ethical household conduct
यद्यग्नयो हि स्पृश्येयुर्निवेशस्था दवाग्निना । इष्टिरष्टाकपालेन कार्या तु शुचयेडग्नये,यदि गृहस्थित अग्नियोंका दावानलसे संसर्ग हो जाय तो मिट्टीके आठ पुरवोंमें संस्कृत चरुद्वारा शुचि नामक अग्निको आहुति देनी चाहिये
yadyagnayo hi spṛśyeyur niveśasthā davāgninā | iṣṭir aṣṭākapālena kāryā tu śucaye 'gnaye ||
Markandeya said: If the household fires, established in their proper place, should come into contact with a forest conflagration, then an expiatory offering is to be performed—an iṣṭi using an eight-pot (aṣṭākapāla) earthen vessel—making oblations of the consecrated porridge (caru) to Agni under the epithet Śuci (“the Pure”). The teaching underscores that when sacred domestic rites are disturbed by external calamity, one should restore ritual purity through prescribed, disciplined action rather than neglecting dharma in times of disruption.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When sacred domestic order is disrupted by an external calamity (like a wildfire touching the household fires), dharma requires restoration through a prescribed expiatory rite—here, an iṣṭi with an aṣṭākapāla vessel, offering caru to Agni as Śuci—emphasizing responsibility, purity, and disciplined repair rather than abandonment.
Mārkaṇḍeya is instructing about a specific ritual contingency: if the established household fires come into contact with a forest fire, one should perform a corrective sacrificial offering (iṣṭi) using an eight-part earthen vessel and make oblations to Agni under the name Śuci.