Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 40
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
आत्मघाती चैकलक्षं वसेत्स नरके शुचौ वृद्धः श्रौतस्मृतेर्लुप्तः परित्यजति यस्त्वसून्
ātmaghātī caikalakṣaṃ vasetsa narake śucau vṛddhaḥ śrautasmṛterluptaḥ parityajati yastvasūn
O que tira a própria vida habita por cem mil (anos) no inferno chamado Śuca. Do mesmo modo, aquele que—mesmo idoso—tendo decaído das injunções védicas e dos códigos do Smṛti, abandona a vida por ato próprio, também vai para lá.
Lord Agni (narrating dharma and karmic consequences to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Teaching karmic consequences of suicide and dharma-lapse through naraka taxonomy to deter self-killing and reinforce śrauta-smārta adherence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śuca-naraka: duration for ātmaghāta and dharma-lapse leading to self-abandonment","lookup_keywords":["ātmaghātin","Śuca-naraka","ekalakṣa","śrauta-smṛti-lopa","karma-vipāka"],"quick_summary":"The verse assigns a long residence in the hell named Śuca to the self-killer, and similarly to one who, having lapsed from śrauta and smṛti norms, abandons life by one’s own act—framing suicide as a grave karmic offense."}
Concept: Ātmaghāta and deliberate life-abandonment after dharma-lapse produce severe karma-vipāka; longevity/age does not excuse adharma.
Application: Ethical deterrent and a framework for community instruction: emphasize seeking dharmic remedies and support rather than self-destruction.
Khanda Section: Naraka-varnana & Karma-vipaka (Descriptions of hells and karmic consequences)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Cosmic realm (Naraka)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic judgment scene leading to the hell Śuca: a departed soul bound by karmic cords, led by messengers toward a bleak infernal landscape, with a time-measure motif indicating 'one hundred thousand years'.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Yama’s attendants leading a pale preta toward a dark cavern labeled Śuca, stylized flames and thorny terrain, strong outlines, moral tableau composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Yama enthroned with gold work, attendants presenting the ātmaghātin, background shows Śuca as a dark enclosure with symbolic time-wheel, rich ornamentation, admonitory mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, schematic cosmography: Yama’s court at top, path to Śuca below, inscriptions implied, clean didactic layout, subdued colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed infernal court with Yama-like judge, attendants with ropes, architectural framing of a gloomy prison labeled Śuca, fine brushwork, narrative clarity"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caikalakṣaṃ = ca + ekalakṣam; vasetsa = vaset + saḥ; śrautasmṛterluptaḥ = śrauta-smṛteḥ + luptaḥ; yastvasūn = yaḥ + tu + asūn.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158.39 (causes leading to self-harm); Agni Purana 158.41 (post-death rites)
FAQs
It gives dharma-śāstric guidance by specifying the karmic result (residence in Śuca-naraka for a fixed term) for self-killing and for abandoning life while disregarding Śruti–Smṛti norms.
By cataloging specific sins and their precise post-mortem consequences (named hells and durations), it functions like a moral-legal compendium alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
It frames suicide and willful life-abandonment contrary to dharma as heavy demerit, warning that such acts lead to severe purification-through-suffering in a designated hell realm.