Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 23
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
दशाहाच्छुद्ध्यते विप्रो जन्महानौ स्वयोनिषु षद्भिस्त्रिभिरहैकेन क्षत्रविट्शूद्रयोनिषु
daśāhācchuddhyate vipro janmahānau svayoniṣu ṣadbhistribhirahaikena kṣatraviṭśūdrayoniṣu
Quando a impureza por nascimento ou por morte ocorre dentro do próprio grupo de casta, um brāhmaṇa purifica-se após dez dias; no caso de kṣatriyas, vaiśyas e śūdras, a purificação dá-se, respectivamente, após seis dias, três dias e um dia.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Determine the duration of āśauca (ritual impurity) after birth/death within one’s own varṇa-group, so that daily rites, temple entry, śrāddha, and social transactions resume at the correct time.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-wise āśauca duration for birth/death within one’s own group","lookup_keywords":["āśauca","sūtaka","mṛtaka","varṇa","daśāha"],"quick_summary":"Sets graded purification periods: brāhmaṇa 10 days; kṣatriya 6; vaiśya 3; śūdra 1, when impurity arises within one’s own caste-group."}
Concept: Ritual purity is time-bound and socially differentiated by varṇa in dharma-norms.
Application: Observe the stated number of days before resuming agnihotra, japa, pūjā, śrāddha participation, and communal rites.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Ashauca & Shauca: rules of impurity and purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A household marked by birth/death impurity; family members refrain from worship while a learned brāhmaṇa counts the purification days for each varṇa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, interior of a traditional house with oil lamps dimmed, a palm-leaf manuscript in a brāhmaṇa’s hand listing daśāha/ṣaḍaha/trirātra/ekāha, restrained earthy palette, flat iconic figures","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on ritual vessels kept aside, a dharma-śāstra scroll showing numbers 10-6-3-1, stylized figures in South Indian attire, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional tableau: four panels labeled brāhmaṇa/kṣatriya/vaiśya/śūdra with corresponding day counts, delicate linework, soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a jurist-like paṇḍit explaining āśauca durations to a family, detailed textiles, architectural niche, fine calligraphy of day counts"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: daśāhācchuddhyate = daśa-ahāt śuddhyate; ṣadbhistribhirahaikena = ṣaḍbhiḥ tribhiḥ ahā ekena (ahā as instr. sg. of ahan); kṣatraviṭśūdrayoniṣu as multi-member compound with yoniṣu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (āśauca-śauca section); Agni Purana śrāddha/antyeṣṭi prakaraṇa (nearby chapters)
FAQs
It prescribes the duration of ashauca (ritual impurity) and the corresponding shuddhi (purification) period after a birth or death within one’s own varna-group: 10 days for Brāhmaṇas; 6/3/1 day(s) for Kṣatriya/Vaiśya/Śūdra.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purāṇa compiles practical dharma-shāstra regulations—here, household and social-ritual law governing purity, mourning observances, and eligibility to resume rites.
Observing the prescribed ashauca period is treated as a discipline of ritual order (śauca), ensuring that sacred acts are performed in a state considered fit and thereby preserving religious merit and communal harmony.