Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 27
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
एकाहः सूतके तत्र मृतके तु द्व्यहो भवेत् सपिण्डानामशौचं हि समानोदकतां वदे
ekāhaḥ sūtake tatra mṛtake tu dvyaho bhavet sapiṇḍānāmaśaucaṃ hi samānodakatāṃ vade
സൂതകം (ജനനാശൗചം) ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ അവിടെ ഒരു ദിവസത്തെ അശൗചം; മരണാശൗചം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ രണ്ട് ദിവസത്തെ. സപിണ്ഡ ബന്ധുക്കളുടെ അശൗചം ‘സമാനോദകത’ (ഒരേ പിണ്ഡോദക-ബന്ധം) വരെയെന്ന് പറയുന്നു।
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Apply minimal āśauca durations (1 day for birth, 2 for death) in the specified context and determine the boundary of sapinda impurity via samānodaka relation for ritual participation decisions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ekāha/dvyaha āśauca and sapinda limit by samānodaka","lookup_keywords":["ekāha","dvyaha","sūtaka","mṛtaka","samānodaka"],"quick_summary":"Defines short impurity periods—one day for birth-impurity and two for death-impurity—and states sapinda āśauca extends up to the degree of sharing the same funerary water-offering (samānodaka)."}
Concept: Ritual impurity is both time-based and relation-based; sapinda scope is operationally defined through samānodaka linkage.
Application: When a birth/death occurs, compute (a) days of restraint and (b) which relatives are affected by checking samānodaka relationship for participation in rites.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Ashaucha & Shuddhi: rules of ritual impurity and purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher explains two timelines—one day for sūtaka and two for mṛtaka—while pointing to a kinship diagram ending at the samānodaka boundary; relatives beyond it remain unaffected.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru with palm-leaf chart showing ‘1’ and ‘2’ day markers, kinship circles labeled up to samānodaka, stylized household scene with restrained ritual objects","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embellished scroll with numbers 1 and 2, a dharma-ācārya indicating the samānodaka limit, ornate border and ritual vessels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, schematic family tree with highlighted samānodaka range, side panel listing ekāha sūtaka and dvyaha mṛtaka, precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly setting with genealogical chart, two small calendar panels (day 1, day 2), relatives grouped by proximity, fine calligraphy"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ekāhaḥ = eka-ahaḥ; dvyaho = dvi-ahaḥ; sapiṇḍānāmaśaucaṃ = sapiṇḍānām aśaucam; samānodakatāṃ as samāna-udaka-tāṃ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (definitions of sapinda/samānodaka and āśauca gradations)
FAQs
It specifies the duration of ritual impurity: one day for birth-impurity (sūtaka) and two days for death-impurity (mṛtaka), and indicates that impurity obligations extend through sapinda/samānodaka kinship ties relevant to śrāddha and water-libations.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical dharma-shastra procedure—household law on impurity periods and kinship boundaries—showing the Purana’s function as a compendium of ritual, legal, and social-religious norms.
Observing ashaucha boundaries is treated as maintaining ritual order (śuddhi) so that daily worship, offerings, and ancestral rites are performed in a fit state, supporting both personal purity and correct duty toward family and ancestors.