Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 30
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
शक्या गणयितुं लोके नत्वतीताः पितामहाः काले सततगे स्थैर्यं नास्ति तस्मात् क्रियां चरेत्
śakyā gaṇayituṃ loke natvatītāḥ pitāmahāḥ kāle satatage sthairyaṃ nāsti tasmāt kriyāṃ caret
ໃນໂລກນີ້ ແມ່ນແຕ່ບັນພະບຸລຸດທີ່ລ່ວງລັບໄປແລ້ວກໍຍັງນັບໄດ້; ແຕ່ໃນກາລະ (ເວລາ) ທີ່ເຄື່ອນໄຫວບໍ່ຢຸດ ບໍ່ມີຄວາມໝັ້ນຄົງ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ຄວນເຮັດກິຣິຍາທາງທຳທີ່ກຳນົດໄວ້ໂດຍໄວ.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Niti-shastra","practical_application":"Cultivate urgency in daily dharma—perform nitya/naimittika rites without procrastination, remembering time’s irreversibility.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kāla-anityatā and prompt performance of kriyā","lookup_keywords":["kala","anityata","kriya","dharma-acara","niti"],"quick_summary":"Time is ceaseless and offers no stability; therefore one should promptly undertake prescribed duties and rites rather than delay."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (contrast)
Concept: Kāla is unstoppable; human life and opportunity are unstable, so dharma must be done promptly.
Application: Set fixed times for sandhyā, śrāddha/naimittika rites, vows, charity; avoid postponing dharmic obligations.
Khanda Section: Nīti-śāstra / Dharma-ācāra (Time, impermanence, and prompt performance of duty)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Vairagya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic scene: a teacher points to a flowing river or turning wheel of Time while householders hurry to perform ritual duties; ancestral figures appear as countable silhouettes fading behind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm earthy palette; personified Kāla as a dark flowing figure with a wheel, a guru instructing a householder near a small yajña-kuṇḍa; subtle ancestral silhouettes in the background; temple mural composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf: central allegory of Kāla as a wheel behind a seated ācārya; a householder offering into agni; ornate borders, rich reds and greens, gold highlights on ritual vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean linework; instructional tableau of daily kriyā—sandhyā posture, small altar, water pot; a clock-like kāla-cakra motif above; calm didactic mood.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly scholar advising a noble; a river of time flowing through the scene; small vignettes of rites (homa, dāna) in margins; fine detailing and pastel tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: natvatītāḥ → na + tu + atītāḥ; nāsti → na + asti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dharma-ācāra and śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sections around adhyāya 157; Agni Purana: teachings on kāla, anityatā, and niyama in adjacent nīti passages
FAQs
It teaches kāla-vicāra (reflection on time) as a practical dharma principle: since time is constantly moving and unstable, one should not postpone kriyā—prescribed rites and duties.
Alongside ritual manuals and specialized sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves nīti and dharma guidance; this verse functions as a general ethical-ritual maxim that underpins many applied sections (vrata, dāna, śrāddha, pūjā) by stressing timely performance.
The karmic point is urgency: delaying dharmic action risks losing the opportunity created by human life and circumstance; performing kriyā promptly supports purification (śuddhi) and accrues merit (puṇya).