Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 9
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
स्रोतोवहाधोगमनं स्नानं गोमयवारिणा पङ्कोदकेन च तथा मशीतोयेन वाप्यथ
srotovahādhogamanaṃ snānaṃ gomayavāriṇā paṅkodakena ca tathā maśītoyena vāpyatha
浄めは、流れる水路に沿って下流へ進むことによっても、また牛糞を混ぜた水で沐浴することによっても成就する。さらに泥水、あるいは灰を混ぜた水でさえ沐浴に用いられる。
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Ritual purification (śauca) methods for impurity contingencies: downstream movement in a watercourse and bathing with specific cleansing media (gomaya-water, muddy water, ash-water) when standard water is constrained or as prescribed expiation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śauca by Snāna: Gomaya-jala, Paṅkodaka, and Bhasma-jala","lookup_keywords":["shauca","snana","gomaya","pankodaka","bhasma-toya"],"quick_summary":"Purification may be effected by moving downstream in flowing water and by bathing with cow-dung water, muddy water, or ash-mixed water as cleansing substitutes/remedies."}
Concept: External purity can be restored through prescribed media and actions; dharma provides graded options when ideal resources are unavailable.
Application: Choose purification method proportionate to impurity and context; use flowing water preferentially, otherwise employ prescribed cleansing mixtures.
Khanda Section: Shauca-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Expiations)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person performing purification: walking along a river downstream and bathing; vessels of gomaya-water, muddy water, and ash-water shown as alternative cleansing agents.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, riverbank purification scene, figure stepping downstream in flowing river, attendants holding pots labeled gomaya-jala and bhasma-jala, earthy palette, stylized waves and flora","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, river snāna with gold accents on water pots and garments, symbolic purity motifs (lotus), frontal composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional layout: river flow arrow indicating downstream, three vessels (gomaya, paṅka, bhasma) with fine detailing, calm background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic river landscape, bather at ghāt, attendants with bowls of ash-water and muddy water, delicate vegetation and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्रोतः-वह-अधः-गमनम् → स्रोतोवहाधोगमनम्; पङ्क-उदकेन → पङ्कोदकेन; वा + अपि + अथ → वाप्यथ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Śauca and prāyaścitta procedures; Agni Purana: Snāna/ācāra rules in dharma sections
FAQs
It teaches specific śauca (purificatory) methods: downstream movement in a flowing stream and ritual bathing using gomaya-water, muddy water, or ash-water as cleansing media.
It preserves practical dharma-ritual protocols (śauca/prāyaścitta) alongside other disciplines, showing the text’s wide coverage of applied religious law and daily-life purity rules.
These acts are presented as means to remove ritual impurity and mitigate fault (doṣa), restoring eligibility for worship, rites, and socially sanctioned conduct.