Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 40
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
आत्मघाती चैकलक्षं वसेत्स नरके शुचौ वृद्धः श्रौतस्मृतेर्लुप्तः परित्यजति यस्त्वसून्
ātmaghātī caikalakṣaṃ vasetsa narake śucau vṛddhaḥ śrautasmṛterluptaḥ parityajati yastvasūn
आत्महत्या करणारा ‘शुच’ नावाच्या नरकात एक लक्ष वर्षे वास करतो. तसेच जो वृद्ध असूनही श्रुति‑स्मृतीच्या विधींमधून भ्रष्ट होऊन स्वतःच्या कृत्याने प्राणत्याग करतो, तोही तेथे जातो।
Lord Agni (narrating dharma and karmic consequences to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Teaching karmic consequences of suicide and dharma-lapse through naraka taxonomy to deter self-killing and reinforce śrauta-smārta adherence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śuca-naraka: duration for ātmaghāta and dharma-lapse leading to self-abandonment","lookup_keywords":["ātmaghātin","Śuca-naraka","ekalakṣa","śrauta-smṛti-lopa","karma-vipāka"],"quick_summary":"The verse assigns a long residence in the hell named Śuca to the self-killer, and similarly to one who, having lapsed from śrauta and smṛti norms, abandons life by one’s own act—framing suicide as a grave karmic offense."}
Concept: Ātmaghāta and deliberate life-abandonment after dharma-lapse produce severe karma-vipāka; longevity/age does not excuse adharma.
Application: Ethical deterrent and a framework for community instruction: emphasize seeking dharmic remedies and support rather than self-destruction.
Khanda Section: Naraka-varnana & Karma-vipaka (Descriptions of hells and karmic consequences)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Cosmic realm (Naraka)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic judgment scene leading to the hell Śuca: a departed soul bound by karmic cords, led by messengers toward a bleak infernal landscape, with a time-measure motif indicating 'one hundred thousand years'.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Yama’s attendants leading a pale preta toward a dark cavern labeled Śuca, stylized flames and thorny terrain, strong outlines, moral tableau composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Yama enthroned with gold work, attendants presenting the ātmaghātin, background shows Śuca as a dark enclosure with symbolic time-wheel, rich ornamentation, admonitory mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, schematic cosmography: Yama’s court at top, path to Śuca below, inscriptions implied, clean didactic layout, subdued colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed infernal court with Yama-like judge, attendants with ropes, architectural framing of a gloomy prison labeled Śuca, fine brushwork, narrative clarity"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caikalakṣaṃ = ca + ekalakṣam; vasetsa = vaset + saḥ; śrautasmṛterluptaḥ = śrauta-smṛteḥ + luptaḥ; yastvasūn = yaḥ + tu + asūn.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158.39 (causes leading to self-harm); Agni Purana 158.41 (post-death rites)
FAQs
It gives dharma-śāstric guidance by specifying the karmic result (residence in Śuca-naraka for a fixed term) for self-killing and for abandoning life while disregarding Śruti–Smṛti norms.
By cataloging specific sins and their precise post-mortem consequences (named hells and durations), it functions like a moral-legal compendium alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
It frames suicide and willful life-abandonment contrary to dharma as heavy demerit, warning that such acts lead to severe purification-through-suffering in a designated hell realm.