Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 20
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
अन्यगोत्रोप्यसम्बद्धः प्रेतस्याग्निन्ददाति यः पिण्डञ्चोदकदानञ्च स दशाहं समापयेत्
anyagotropyasambaddhaḥ pretasyāgnindadāti yaḥ piṇḍañcodakadānañca sa daśāhaṃ samāpayet
മറ്റൊരു ഗോത്രക്കാരനായ, ബന്ധമില്ലാത്ത ആളും മരിച്ചവന് ചിതാഗ്നി നൽകുകയും പിണ്ഡദാനവും ഉദകദാനവും നടത്തുകയും ചെയ്താൽ, അവൻ വിധിപൂർവ്വം ദശാഹ കർമ്മം സമാപിപ്പിക്കാം.
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual procedure within the Agni Purana’s instruction to a sage-tradition audience, commonly framed as Agni’s discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for funerary exigencies: even a non-relative (different gotra) may lawfully perform key preta-kriyā acts—providing fire, piṇḍa and water offerings—and complete the ten-day rites when relatives are absent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Eligibility to complete daśāha rites by a non-relative","lookup_keywords":["daśāha","preta-kriyā","anyagotrin","piṇḍa-dāna","udaka-dāna"],"quick_summary":"If a person—even from another lineage and unrelated—undertakes the cremation fire and performs piṇḍa and water libations, he is authorized to complete the ten-day funerary observances."}
Concept: Saṃskāra-dharma prioritizes completion of essential rites over lineage barriers in cases of necessity.
Application: Community responsibility: ensure cremation and preta-rites are not neglected when kin are unavailable.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha and Antyeṣṭi-vidhi (Funerary rites, preta-kriyā, daśāha observances)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cremation-ground rite: an unrelated but dutiful person kindles the funeral fire, then offers rice-balls and water libations over ten days, with minimal ritual implements and solemn witnesses.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, cremation ghat with stylized flames, performer in simple attire offering piṇḍa on darbha, water pot in hand, subdued palette, sacred solemnity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, symbolic antyeṣṭi scene with gold-highlighted fire altar, performer offering piṇḍa and udaka, framed by ornamental pillars, reverent composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: panels for agni-dāna, piṇḍa-dāna, udaka-dāna, and daśāha completion, fine linework and labels of ritual items.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, riverside cremation scene with attendants, detailed vessels and textiles, performer pouring water libation, smoke and landscape rendered delicately."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अन्यगोत्रोप्यसम्बद्धः → अन्यगोत्रः + अपि + असम्बद्धः; प्रेतस्याग्निन्ददाति → प्रेतस्य + अग्निम् + ददाति; पिण्डञ्चोदकदानञ्च → पिण्डम् + च + उदकदानम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 166 (Śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-vidhi subsections)
FAQs
It states the rule of ritual eligibility: even a non-relative from another gotra may perform essential preta-kriyā—providing the funeral fire, offering piṇḍa, and giving water-libations—and thereby complete the daśāha rites.
Beyond theology, it codifies practical dharma for real-world contingencies (absence of kin), preserving procedural guidance for funerary ritual, social duty, and continuity of śrāddha observances.
Ensuring cremation-fire and post-death offerings are performed supports the departed’s onward journey and reduces ritual deficiency (doṣa) when relatives are unavailable, transferring a meritorious duty to a qualified helper.