Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 156 — द्रव्यशुद्धिः (Dravya-śuddhi) / Purification of Substances
मार्जनाद्यज्ञपात्राणां पाणिना यज्ञकर्मणि उष्णाम्बुना सस्नेहानां शुद्धिः सम्मार्जनाद्गृहे
mārjanādyajñapātrāṇāṃ pāṇinā yajñakarmaṇi uṣṇāmbunā sasnehānāṃ śuddhiḥ sammārjanādgṛhe
ໃນການປະກອບພິທີຍັດຍະ ການຊໍາລະພາຊະນະພິທີເຮັດໂດຍການເຊັດຖູ ແລະ ໃຊ້ມື. ສິ່ງທີ່ມີນ້ໍາມັນຫຼືຄວາມມັນ ບໍລິສຸດໄດ້ດ້ວຍນ້ໍາຮ້ອນ; ແລະໃນເຮືອນ ຄວາມບໍລິສຸດຮັກສາໄດ້ໂດຍການກວາດແລະທໍາຄວາມສະອາດຢ່າງລະອຽດ.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual manuals)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Operational rules for maintaining purity in yajña and household: wiping ritual vessels, hand-cleaning during rites, using hot water for greasy items, and sweeping for domestic cleanliness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yajña-pātra and gṛha-śauca: mārjana, pāṇi-śuddhi, uṣṇāmbu, sammārjana","lookup_keywords":["yajñapātra","mārjana","uṣṇāmbu","sneha","gṛha-śauca"],"quick_summary":"During sacrifice, vessels are purified by wiping and by hand-cleaning; greasy items require hot water; household purity is maintained by thorough sweeping/cleaning."}
Concept: Outer cleanliness supports inner order in ritual life; śauca is maintained through repeated small actions (wiping, washing, sweeping) rather than occasional grand acts.
Application: Temple and home SOP: assign roles for wiping vessels during rites, keep hot water ready for oily residues, and schedule daily sweeping to maintain readiness for worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yajna-śauca (Ritual procedure and purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yajña scene: priests wiping ritual vessels, washing hands, a pot of hot water used to cleanse greasy utensils; nearby, a household interior being swept clean.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sacred yajña-śālā with priests; rhythmic wiping of vessels; steaming hot-water pot; adjacent domestic courtyard being swept; subdued devotional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted yajña vessels and ladles; priestly figures with ornate borders; hot-water pot with stylized steam; auspicious domestic cleanliness motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction of steps: wipe, hand-clean, hot-water wash, sweep; clear sequencing and fine detailing of utensils.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual interior; attendants cleaning vessels; hot-water cauldron; sweeping in the background; rich textiles and architectural arches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mārjanādyajñapātrāṇāṃ → mārjana-ādi-yajña-pātrāṇām; uṣṇāmbunā → uṣṇa-ambunā; sammārjanādgṛhe → sam-mārjanāt gṛhe.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 155 (Ācāra); Agni Purana 156 (Dravya-śuddhi)
FAQs
It gives practical śauca rules: yajña vessels are purified by wiping and hand-cleaning during rituals; greasy residue requires hot-water washing; household purity is maintained through thorough sweeping/cleaning.
Beyond theology, it records operational standards for ritual hygiene and domestic cleanliness—procedural dharma that functions like a manual for priests and householders.
Correct purification safeguards ritual validity and sattvic order; maintaining cleanliness in yajña and at home supports merit (puṇya) by aligning conduct with dharma and preventing ritual impurity.