Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 156 — द्रव्यशुद्धिः (Dravya-śuddhi) / Purification of Substances
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे आचाराध्यायो नाम पञ्चपञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ षट्पञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः द्रव्यचुद्धिः पुष्कर उवाच द्रव्यशुद्धिं प्रवक्ष्यामि पुनःपाकेन मृण्मयं शुद्ध्येन् मूत्रपुरीषाद्यैः स्पृष्टाम्रं सुवर्णकं
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe ācārādhyāyo nāma pañcapañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣaṭpañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dravyacuddhiḥ puṣkara uvāca dravyaśuddhiṃ pravakṣyāmi punaḥpākena mṛṇmayaṃ śuddhyen mūtrapurīṣādyaiḥ spṛṣṭāmraṃ suvarṇakaṃ
Demikianlah dalam Agni Mahāpurāṇa berakhir bab bernama “Ācāra”, bab ke-155. Kini bermula bab ke-156, “Penyucian bahan-bahan”. Puṣkara bersabda: “Aku akan menerangkan penyucian bahan. Periuk tanah liat disucikan dengan dibakar semula; tembaga dan emas yang tersentuh air kencing, najis dan seumpamanya hendaklah disucikan menurut tatacara yang ditetapkan.”
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Ritual and domestic purity: selecting the correct method to decontaminate utensils/materials after contact with impure substances (e.g., excreta), especially for yajña and daily āhāra-vihāra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dravya-śuddhi: mṛṇmaya-pātra and metal purification after mala-sparśa","lookup_keywords":["dravyaśuddhi","mṛṇmaya","punahpāka","tāmra-śuddhi","mūtra-purīṣa"],"quick_summary":"Earthenware becomes pure by re-firing; metals like copper and gold defiled by contact with urine/feces require prescribed cleansing. Use material-specific purification rather than a single universal method."}
Concept: Śauca is context-sensitive: purity depends on dravya (material) and doṣa (type of defilement), and is restored by appropriate saṃskāra (transformative process like heating).
Application: Adopt graded, material-appropriate cleaning rules in ritual kitchens, temples, and households to prevent ritual fault (doṣa) and maintain hygienic order.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Achara & Shaucha (Ritual purity; Dravya-śuddhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual setting where earthen pots are re-fired in a kiln while copper and gold vessels, defiled by contact with impure substances, are set aside for prescribed cleansing; Puṣkara instructs disciples on dravya-śuddhi.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette; a sage (Puṣkara) teaching śauca; earthen pots near a glowing kiln, copper and gold vessels on a mat; minimal background, sacred calm, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights on gold vessels; central seated sage with palm-leaf manuscript; stylized kiln and earthenware; rich reds and greens, temple-like framing, embossed jewelry details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework; instructional tableau showing labeled vessels (earthen, copper, gold) and the act of re-firing; soft shading, delicate faces, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop-kitchen scene; attendants handling vessels, a small kiln, the sage supervising; intricate textiles, architectural niche, naturalistic metal sheen."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti āgneye; 'dṛavyacuddhiḥ' normalized as dravyaśuddhiḥ; śuddhyen read as śuddhyet (optative); spṛṣṭāmraṃ interpreted as spṛṣṭa-tāmram (P.P.P. + noun), manuscript spelling uncertain.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 155 (Ācāra); Agni Purana 156 (Dravya-śuddhi)
FAQs
It introduces dravya-śuddhi (material purification): earthenware is purified by re-firing, and metals like copper and gold require purification when contaminated by substances such as urine and feces.
It demonstrates the Purāṇa’s practical coverage of dharma and ritual hygiene—codifying how everyday objects (vessels and metals) are restored to ritual fitness, alongside its many other disciplines.
Maintaining śauca (purity) safeguards the validity of worship and rites; purifying contaminated items prevents ritual impurity from affecting religious acts and supports dharmic conduct.