Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
आग्रत्स्वप्नसुसुप्त्यान्तमुक्तमिति ङ , छ , ञ च इत्य् आग्नेये अशौचनिर्णय इत्य् आदिः, सत्यमानन्दमद्वयमित्यन्तः पाठो ग पुस्तके नास्ति अथ द्विषष्ट्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः धर्मशास्त्रकथनं पुष्कर उवाच मनुर्विष्णुर्याज्ञवल्को हारीतो ऽत्रिर्यमो ऽङिगिराः वसिष्ठदक्षसंवर्तशातातपपराशराः
āgratsvapnasusuptyāntamuktamiti ṅa , cha , ña ca ity āgneye aśaucanirṇaya ity ādiḥ, satyamānandamadvayamityantaḥ pāṭho ga pustake nāsti atha dviṣaṣṭyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dharmaśāstrakathanaṃ puṣkara uvāca manurviṣṇuryājñavalko hārīto 'triryamo 'ṅigirāḥ vasiṣṭhadakṣasaṃvartaśātātapaparāśarāḥ
“‘…terminando com as palavras: vigília, sonho e sono profundo—assim foi declarado’—assim leem as recensões (ṅ, cha e ña). No Āgneya (Agni Purāṇa) começa com ‘a determinação da impureza (aśauca)’; e a leitura final ‘(Ele é) Verdade, Bem-aventurança, não-dual’ não se encontra no manuscrito ‘ga’. Agora começa o capítulo cento e sessenta e dois, ‘Exposição do Dharmaśāstra’. Disse Puṣkara: Manu, Viṣṇu, Yājñavalkya, Hārīta, Atri, Yama, Aṅgiras, Vasiṣṭha, Dakṣa, Saṃvarta, Śātātapa e Parāśara (são as autoridades).”
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Establishes smṛti-authorities for dharma and frames the chapter’s jurisprudential method; also notes manuscript/recension variants—useful for textual criticism and correct ritual/legal application (e.g., aśauca determinations).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Smṛti-Authorities for Dharma (Manu to Parāśara) and Textual Recension Note","lookup_keywords":["aśauca-nirṇaya","smṛti-pramāṇa","manu","yājñavalkya","parāśara"],"quick_summary":"Introduces the Dharmaśāstra chapter by listing principal smṛti authorities and preserves a note on recension differences, signaling that dharma rulings (like aśauca) depend on reliable textual transmission."}
Concept: Pramāṇa in dharma: smṛti authorities and stable textual readings are foundational for determining conduct rules (notably aśauca).
Application: When resolving purity/impurity and conduct disputes, consult recognized smṛti lineages and verify readings across recensions/manuscripts before applying rulings.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Aśauca & Smṛti-Authorities)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scholastic assembly at Puṣkara: sages seated with palm-leaf manuscripts; a narrator introduces the Dharmaśāstra chapter and enumerates authorities; marginal notes show variant readings (recensions) like a scribe’s colophon.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sage Puṣkara speaking to a circle of ṛṣis, palm-leaf bundles and stylus, temple-tank backdrop suggesting Puṣkara tīrtha, warm ochres, bold outlines, manuscript-variant motifs as decorative borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated sages with gold halos, ornate manuscript stand, central speaker gesturing as names of smṛti-kāras appear on scroll-like bands, rich gold work and symmetrical court-like assembly","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional scholarly scene: scribe comparing two manuscripts, side-notes indicating ‘ṅ/छ/ञ’ recensions, calm classroom-like setting with fine linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, learned majlis with scholars on carpets, stacks of manuscripts, one scholar pointing to marginal variants, architectural pavilion and waterbody hinting at Puṣkara, intricate detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: o 'sau etc. not present here; ity āgneye = iti + āgneye; ity ādiḥ = iti + ādiḥ; ityantaḥ = iti + antaḥ; dviṣaṣṭyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ = ... + adhyāyaḥ; manurviṣṇur... = manuḥ + viṣṇuḥ + ...; hārīto 'triḥ = hārītaḥ + atriḥ; yamo 'ṅgirāḥ = yamaḥ + aṅgirāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 162 (Dharmaśāstra-kathana) opening; aśauca-nirṇaya section that follows; Agni Purana earlier śauca/prāyaścitta discussions in vrata context
FAQs
It introduces Dharmaśāstra instruction by citing Smṛti authorities and signals that the chapter’s subject begins with aśauca-nirṇaya—practical rules for ritual impurity and purification.
By anchoring its legal/ritual section in a recognized corpus of Smṛti authors (Manu, Yājñavalkya, Parāśara, etc.) and preserving textual-variant notes, it shows the Purāṇa functioning as a compendium of jurisprudence, ritual practice, and scholarly transmission.
Correct handling of aśauca safeguards ritual eligibility and purity, ensuring that rites (śrāddha, dāna, pūjā) are performed in a dharmically valid manner, which is held to preserve merit (puṇya) and avoid ritual fault (doṣa).