Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
समाप्य वेदं ह्य् अनिशमारण्यकमधीत्य च पञ्चदश्यां चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां राहुसूतके
samāpya vedaṃ hy aniśamāraṇyakamadhītya ca pañcadaśyāṃ caturdaśyāmaṣṭamyāṃ rāhusūtake
वेदाध्ययन पूर्ण करून नित्य आरण्यकाचाही अभ्यास करावा. परंतु पौर्णिमा, चतुर्दशी, अष्टमी आणि ग्रहणकाळी (राहुसूतक) वेदाध्ययन टाळावे.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Plan Vedic recitation and svadhyaya around prohibited tithis and eclipse periods; pause study on specified lunar days and during grahana to maintain ritual discipline.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Svādhyāya-niṣedha on specific tithis and during grahaṇa","lookup_keywords":["svadhyaya nishedha","purnima chaturdashi ashtami","rahu sutaka","aranyaka adhyayana"],"quick_summary":"Continue Āraṇyaka study regularly, but suspend Vedic study on Pūrṇimā (15th), Caturdaśī (14th), Aṣṭamī (8th), and during eclipse impurity (Rāhu-sūtaka)."}
Concept: Kāla-śuddhi (purity of time) governs eligibility for svādhyāya and ritual acts.
Application: Maintain a calendar of tithi and grahaṇa; resume study after sūtaka ends and purification is done per one’s śākhā/ācāra.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vratācāra (Ritual discipline and calendrical restrictions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vedic student in a quiet hermitage pauses recitation on Aṣṭamī/Caturdaśī/Pūrṇimā; in the sky an eclipse (Rāhu) is visible, indicating sūtaka time.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, serene āśrama with palm-leaf manuscripts, brahmacārin seated, eclipse disk with Rāhu motif in sky, earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed eclipse disk, seated Vedic scholar with manuscript and rosary, ornate border, rich jewel tones, emphasis on auspicious/inauspicious calendar symbols","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional calendar panel showing tithis 8/14/15 and grahaṇa marked as ‘anadhyāya’, scholar closing book, delicate linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed night-sky eclipse over a riverside hermitage, scholar and disciples stopping recitation, fine architectural and botanical detail, subdued palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्य् = हि; अनिशमारण्यकमधीत्य = अनिशम् + आरण्यकम् + अधीत्य; चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां = चतुर्दश्याम् + अष्टम्याम्; राहुसूतके = राहु- + सूतके (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 162 (svadhyaya-niyama/niṣedha context)
FAQs
It gives adhyayana-niyama: guidance on when to pursue continual Āraṇyaka/Vedic study and when to suspend it—specifically on certain tithis (15th, 14th, 8th) and during eclipse-related sūtaka (Rāhu-sūtake).
It combines Vedic curriculum guidance (Veda/Āraṇyaka study) with calendrical-astral timing (tithi and eclipse sūtaka), showing how the text integrates education, ritual law, and Jyotiṣa-based observance.
By avoiding study/recitation during ritually adverse times (notably eclipse sūtaka), one preserves śauca (ritual purity) and prevents doṣa (ritual fault), keeping religious practice aligned with dharma and auspicious timing.