Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 2
Purification Concerning the Unsanctified
Asaṃskṛta) and Related Cases (असंस्कृतादिशौचम्
आपात इति ख , छ च अननेप्येवमेवं स्यादित्यादिः, भोक्तुरेकमहोन्यथेत्यन्तः पाठः घ , झ , ञ पुस्तकत्रयेषु नास्ति गङ्गातोये नरस्यास्थि यावत्तावद्दिवि स्थतिः आत्मनस्त्यागिनां नास्ति पतितानां तथा क्रिया
āpāta iti kha , cha ca ananepyevamevaṃ syādityādiḥ, bhokturekamahonyathetyantaḥ pāṭhaḥ gha , jha , ña pustakatrayeṣu nāsti gaṅgātoye narasyāsthi yāvattāvaddivi sthatiḥ ātmanastyāgināṃ nāsti patitānāṃ tathā kriyā
ໝາຍເຫດວິຈາລະນາຂໍ້ຄວາມ: ໃນຕົ້ນສະບັບ kha ແລະ cha ອ່ານເລີ່ມດ້ວຍ “āpāta…”. ຕອນ “ananepyevamevaṃ syād…” ແລະທ້າຍ “bhokturekam aho'nyathā” ບໍ່ພົບໃນຕົ້ນສະບັບສາມເລື່ອງ (gha, jha, ña). — (ຄາຖາ): ຕາບໃດທີ່ກະດູກຂອງຊາຍຍັງຢູ່ໃນນ້ໍາຄົງຄາ ຕາບນັ້ນເຂົາຢູ່ໃນສະຫວັນ. ສໍາລັບຜູ້ທີ່ທິ້ງຊີວິດຕົນເອງ (ຂ້າຕົນ) ແລະສໍາລັບຜູ້ຕົກຕໍ່າ/ຄົນບາບໜັກ ພິທີແບບນີ້ບໍ່ໄດ້ກໍານົດໄວ້.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purāṇa narration to Vasiṣṭha; this verse is transmitted with a manuscript-critical note)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Twofold: (1) textual-critical awareness of variant readings in manuscript traditions; (2) rule about duration of heavenly stay linked to bones in Gaṅgā and exclusion of rites for suicides and grave sinners/outcast categories.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Manuscript variants; Gaṅgā-asthi merit duration and exclusion for suicides/patitas","lookup_keywords":["pāṭha-bheda","manuscript","Gaṅgā-toya","asthi","ātma-tyāgin","patita"],"quick_summary":"The passage notes manuscript variants, then states: heavenly benefit persists as long as bones remain in Gaṅgā waters; funerary rites of this type are denied for self-killers and certain ‘fallen’ categories per dharma norms."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is conditioned by eligibility (adhikāra) and moral status; textual transmission itself is plural (pāṭha-bheda), requiring discernment.
Application: When performing or prescribing rites, verify both the received textual reading and the performer/recipient’s eligibility as defined by one’s dharma tradition.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha–Antyeṣṭi–Prāyaścitta (Funerary rites, purification, and expiation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe compares manuscripts noting missing lines; alongside, a Gaṅgā immersion scene with a symbolic measure of time tied to bones in water; a cautionary vignette indicates rites not performed for suicides/patitas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholarly-scribal corner with palm-leaf bundles labeled kha/cha/gha/jha/ña, a learned figure pointing to variant lines; adjacent riverside Gaṅgā asthi immersion; somber palette and didactic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, split composition: left—scribe and guru with manuscripts, gold-highlighted palm leaves; right—Gaṅgā rite with priest; small symbolic ‘niṣedha’ panel for ineligible cases, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical instructional art: manuscript collation scene with clear props (palm leaves, stylus), then stepwise depiction of asthi immersion and eligibility check, fine linework and legible staging","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier-like manuscript collation with scholars, then a detailed river scene; subtle caption-like cartouches indicating variant readings and the rule of duration, refined realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: This item contains extensive critical apparatus; analyzed the main readable verse portion: गङ्गातोये...क्रिया. गङ्गातोये = गङ्गा-तोये; नरस्यास्थि = नरस्य + अस्थि; यावत्तावद् = यावत् + तावत्; आत्मनस्त्यागिनाम् = आत्मनः + त्यागिनाम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 159.1 (Gaṅgā asthi-kṣepa and preta welfare); Agni Purana 159.3 (efficacy/fruitlessness conditions for offerings)
FAQs
It states a funerary/after-death rule: immersion of a person’s bones in Gaṅgā-water yields heavenly residence for as long as the bone remains there, while indicating restrictions on performing the same rite for suicides and for patita-s (gravely fallen).
It combines tīrtha-mahātmya (the salvific power of sacred geography like the Gaṅgā) with dharma-śāstra style ritual regulation (eligibility/exclusion for rites), showing the text’s breadth across pilgrimage theology and technical ritual law.
The verse frames Gaṅgā-immersion of remains as a powerful purifier granting heavenly merit, while also asserting that certain acts (self-destruction and severe moral fall) disrupt eligibility for standard post-death rites, emphasizing karma and ritual fitness.