Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 6
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
अजातदन्ते तु मृते कृतचूडे ऽर्भके तथा प्रेते न्यूने त्रिभिर्वर्षैर् मृते शुद्धिस्तु नैशिल्की
ajātadante tu mṛte kṛtacūḍe 'rbhake tathā prete nyūne tribhirvarṣair mṛte śuddhistu naiśilkī
दात न आलेल्या शिशूचा मृत्यू झाला, तसेच चूडाकर्म झालेले अतिशय लहान मूलही—तीन वर्षांपेक्षा कमी वयात मरण पावल्यास—शुद्धी तात्काळ होते; दीर्घ अशौच नसते।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of the Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Clarifies that death of very young children (pre-teething or under three years, even post-cūḍā) entails immediate purification, affecting funeral-related restrictions and resumption of rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bāla-maraṇa: sadyaḥ-śuddhi (ajāta-danta, nyūna-trivarṣa)","lookup_keywords":["ajāta-danta","bāla-mṛtyu","trivarṣa","sadyaḥ-śuddhi","cūḍā"],"quick_summary":"If a child dies before teething, or dies under three years even after cūḍā, the household’s purification is immediate—no extended āśauca is observed."}
Concept: Dharma recognizes diminished ritual burden in cases of very early death, prescribing immediate restoration of ritual eligibility.
Application: In bereavement involving an infant/toddler under the stated conditions, do not impose extended household restrictions; proceed with necessary rites while maintaining basic cleanliness and decorum.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Ashaucha-shuddhi (rules of impurity and purification)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grieving family with a very young child’s bier; a priest indicates immediate śuddhi, with water vessel and simple cleansing gestures, emphasizing compassion and reduced restriction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: tender, subdued scene of a small bier and family in quiet grief; priest gestures toward a water pot signifying immediate purification; minimal ornament, compassionate tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: symbolic composition—small bier, conch and water pot, priest’s blessing hand; gold highlights used sparingly to convey sanctity amid sorrow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: instructional vignette with clear labels ‘ajāta-danta’, ‘nyūna-trivarṣa’, ‘sadyaḥ-śuddhi’; calm figures, precise detailing of ritual items.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate courtyard scene, family in muted garments, cleric holding a small manuscript indicating immediate śuddhi; fine architectural detail and restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कृतचूडे ऽर्भके → कृतचूडे + अर्भके; त्रिभिर्वर्षैर् → त्रिभिः + वर्षैः; शुद्धिस्तु → शुद्धिः + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (child-stage exceptions in āśauca); Agni Purana antyeṣṭi/śrāddha-related guidance
FAQs
It specifies the aśauca/shuddhi rule for very young children: for an infant without teeth, or a small child (even after cūḍā), if death occurs before age three, purification is immediate with no extended impurity period.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharma regulations for household life—here, a precise age-based rule for impurity and purification connected to death rites.
By limiting or removing extended aśauca for very young children, the text frames such deaths as not generating the same ritual impurity obligations, guiding families to restore ritual eligibility promptly while still observing due rites.