Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 25
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
परपूर्वासु च स्त्रीषु त्रिरात्राच्छुद्धिरिष्यते वृथासङ्करजातानां प्रव्रज्यासु च तिष्ठतां
parapūrvāsu ca strīṣu trirātrācchuddhiriṣyate vṛthāsaṅkarajātānāṃ pravrajyāsu ca tiṣṭhatāṃ
Para as mulheres que entraram noutra família (isto é, casadas para fora), prescreve-se a purificação após três noites. A mesma purificação de três noites é aceita para os nascidos de uniões ilícitas ou irregulares e para os que vivem em estado de renúncia (pravrajyā).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Apply three-night purification for specific social statuses—married-away women, irregular-union offspring, and renunciants—so rites and social contact resume correctly.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Trirātra-śuddhi for married-away women, irregular-union births, and pravrajyā dwellers","lookup_keywords":["trirātra śuddhi","parapūrvā strī","saṅkara-jāta","pravrajyā","āśauca"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a uniform three-night purification period for women affiliated to another family, for those of irregular birth, and for persons living in renunciation."}
Concept: Purificatory time is adjusted by social affiliation and āśrama-status (householder vs renunciant) within dharma order.
Application: Observe trirātra restraint (food/ritual contact as per local smṛti practice) before re-entering communal rites.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Ashauca-shuddhi (Purification and impurity rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three parallel vignettes: a married-away woman at her in-laws’ home observing three nights; a person of mixed/irregular birth observing restraint; a renunciant in simple robes maintaining purity discipline.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych, left: woman with bridal ornaments in a new household; center: humble figure near village edge; right: saffron-robed pravrajita with kamaṇḍalu, each panel marked ‘3 nights’, flat iconic style","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, three framed scenes with gold borders, ritual vessels set aside, emphasis on domestic threshold and renunciant’s staff, ornate but didactic","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional panels with captions trirātra, delicate shading, focus on conduct (no temple entry, restrained posture)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative sequence across a page: household transition, social marginality, and ascetic life; fine architectural details and subdued palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: trirātrācchuddhiḥ = tri-rātrāt śuddhiḥ; vṛthāsaṅkarajātānāṃ as compound; tiṣṭhatāṃ taken as loṭ 3pl (tiṣṭhantu/tiṣṭhatām variant).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (āśauca gradations for different relations/statuses)
FAQs
It specifies a concrete shuddhi (purification) period of three nights (trirātra) applicable in certain social/ritual categories, functioning as a practical rule within ashauca-shuddhi regulations.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana compiles dharma-shastra style norms—here, a precise rule for ritual purity across different life-situations (marriage-transfer, irregular birth categories, and renunciant life), showing its coverage of social law and ritual procedure.
By defining when ritual purity is restored, the verse safeguards eligibility for rites (e.g., worship, offerings, samskaras), framing purity as a discipline that maintains dharmic order and mitigates ritual fault (doṣa).