Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
अन्त्यजातिश्वपाकेन संस्पृष्टा स्त्री रजस्वला चतुर्थे ऽहनि शुद्धा सा त्रिरात्रं तत्र आचरेत्
antyajātiśvapākena saṃspṛṣṭā strī rajasvalā caturthe 'hani śuddhā sā trirātraṃ tatra ācaret
月経中の女が、最下層の者（チャンダーラ／被差別の外ヴァルナ）に触れられて汚染されたなら、第四日に清浄となる。その後、その場において定められた慎みの行（戒・作法）を三夜にわたり守るべきである。
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Determining the duration and mode of śauca (ritual purity) observance after contact-based impurity during rajasvalā (menstruation), including time-counting and restraint rules.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rajasvalā-śuddhi after antyajāti/śvapāka-sparśa","lookup_keywords":["rajasvalā","śvapāka-sparśa","antyajāti","śuddhi","trirātra-ācāra"],"quick_summary":"If a menstruating woman is contaminated by contact with an outcaste (śvapāka/caṇḍāla), her purification is reckoned on the fourth day; thereafter she follows a three-night restraint/observance as prescribed for that condition."}
Concept: Śuddhi is time-bound and rule-governed; contact-impurity modifies the śauca schedule and requires restraint.
Application: Use as a decision-rule for household/ritual eligibility (cooking, worship, contact) by counting days and observing prescribed restraint.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Ashaucha & Shuddhi: rules of impurity and purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic ritual setting where a rajasvalā woman maintains separation and observes a three-night restraint after an impurity-causing touch; emphasis on temporal counting (fourth day) and household boundaries.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, interior of a traditional house with clear spatial separation, a woman seated apart with modest attire, attendants keeping distance, symbolic calendar marks for the fourth day and three nights, earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold leaf accents, a household śauca scene: woman seated on a low wooden seat apart, ritual vessels (kalaśa, water pot) placed at a distance, ornate borders, emphasis on auspicious/inauspicious demarcation using gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional tableau: labeled day-count (4th day) and three-night observance, clean linework, soft colors, minimal background, showing separation space and simple ritual implements for purity observance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature style, detailed domestic courtyard with attendants, a woman in seclusion area, subtle narrative of time passing (night lamps), fine textiles, architectural detailing, restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुर्थे ऽहनि = चतुर्थे अहनि (अ + अ → ऽ); तत्र आचरेत् = तत्र आचरेत् (no change in writing, hiatus).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (Aśauca-Śuddhi/Śauca-vidhi context)
FAQs
It gives a shuddhi-vidhi (purificatory rule): when a rajasvalā (menstruating woman) is considered purified after contact with an antyajāti/śvapāka, and it prescribes a three-night observance as the required regimen.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharma-shastra style regulations—detailed purity/impurity timelines and conduct—showing its wide coverage of social-ritual law.
The verse frames purity as a prerequisite for ritual and religious life; following the stated timeline and observance is treated as restoring ritual eligibility and reducing the fault (doṣa) associated with impurity/defilement.