Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
ऋतुसन्धिषु भुक्त्वा वा श्राद्विकं प्रतिगृह्य च पशुमण्डूकनकुलश्वाहिमार्जारशूकरैः
ṛtusandhiṣu bhuktvā vā śrādvikaṃ pratigṛhya ca paśumaṇḍūkanakulaśvāhimārjāraśūkaraiḥ
ഋതുസന്ധിക്കാലത്ത് ഭക്ഷണം കഴിച്ചാലോ, ശ്രാദ്ധബന്ധമായ ദാനം/അർപ്പണം സ്വീകരിച്ചാലോ; കൂടാതെ പശു മുതലായ മൃഗങ്ങൾ, തവള, നകുലം, നായ, പാമ്പ്, പൂച്ച, പന്നി എന്നിവയുടെ സ്പർശം മൂലമുള്ള അശൗചം കാരണം (നിയമനിഷ്ഠകൾ ബാധകമാകും).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Identify causes of aśauca/anadhyāya: eating at seasonal junctions, accepting śrāddha-related gifts, and impurity from contact with specified animals; apply purification and temporary restrictions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aśauca/niṣedha causes: ṛtu-sandhi, śrāddha-pratigraha, and animal-contact","lookup_keywords":["ritu sandhi bhukta","shraddha pratigraha","ashauca animals","pashu manduka nakula"],"quick_summary":"Seasonal junction eating, receiving śrāddha-connected offerings, and defilement from contact with certain animals are listed as triggers for impurity/restriction requiring observance of śauca rules."}
Concept: Śauca is maintained by regulating food-times, gifts (especially śrāddha-linked), and contact that is culturally coded as contaminating.
Application: Avoid accepting śrāddha-related items when ineligible; if contact occurs, follow one’s dharmaśāstric purification (snāna, ācamana, change of cloth, and time-bound restraint as prescribed).
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Shraddha-vidhi / Ashauca & Nishedha)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder at a seasonal junction meal, a śrāddha offering being presented, and nearby animals (cow, frog, mongoose, dog, snake, cat, pig) indicating sources of ritual impurity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych composition: ṛtu-sandhi meal, śrāddha gift exchange, and a row of animals symbolizing aśauca; bold outlines, flat planes, traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central śrāddha scene with gold ornamentation, side panels showing animals as symbolic emblems, rich reds and greens, decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout with labeled vignettes: ‘ṛtu-sandhi’, ‘śrāddha-pratigraha’, ‘sparśa-doṣa’; fine lines, soft colors, manuscript-like clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with detailed food service and ritual gifting; animals at margins; naturalistic rendering and intricate textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऋतुसन्धिषु = ऋतु + सन्धिषु (तत्पुरुष); पशुमण्डूक...शूकरैः is an itaretara-dvandva in instrumental plural.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 162 (aśauca/anadhyāya lists and contingencies)
FAQs
It lists impurity-triggering situations relevant to śrāddha and ritual conduct—eating at ṛtusandhi and accepting śrāddha-related items, as well as defilement associated with certain animals—indicating when restrictions or purification should be observed.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharma guidance: calendrical sensitivities (seasonal junctions), śrāddha protocol, and purity rules—showing it functions as a compendium of ritual law and daily religious practice.
It safeguards the sanctity of ancestral rites and purity-based observances; avoiding these impurity-causing acts (or performing proper expiation) is presented as necessary to keep rites efficacious and to prevent ritual fault (doṣa).