Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 7
Adhyaya 165 — नानाधर्माः
Various Dharmas
सन्त्यजेद् दूषितान्नारीमृतुकाले न शुद्ध्यति य आत्मत्र्यतिरेकेण द्वितीयं नात्र पश्यति
santyajed dūṣitānnārīmṛtukāle na śuddhyati ya ātmatryatirekeṇa dvitīyaṃ nātra paśyati
Deve-se abandonar a mulher que se tornou maculada; durante o período menstrual ela não é considerada purificada. Porém, para aquele que, além do Si (Ātman), não percebe aqui nenhum “segundo”, esta regra não se aplica do mesmo modo.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s primary didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Navigating apparent tension between social purity rules (abandoning a 'defiled' woman; menstruation as aśuddhi) and a non-dual (advaita-like) standpoint where such dualistic rules are transcended for the knower of the Self.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śauca Rules and the Non-dual Exception: Strī-doṣa, Ṛtu-aśuddhi, and Advaita-darśana","lookup_keywords":["strī-śauca","ṛtu-kāla","aśuddhi","tyāga (abandonment)","na dvitīyam (non-duality)"],"quick_summary":"The verse states conventional śauca norms regarding defilement and menstruation, then introduces a higher vision: for one who perceives no 'second' apart from the Self, the binding force of such duality-based rules is altered/relativized."}
Concept: Non-duality (na dvitīyam): when the Self alone is seen, conventional purity/impurity distinctions—tools for social-ritual order—do not bind in the same manner.
Application: Maintain dharma-based śauca rules at the transactional level (vyavahāra), while recognizing that for established Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna), such distinctions are ultimately sublated; apply with discernment to avoid harm and confusion.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Stri-dharma & Shauca (Purity) Regulations
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: karuṇa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two-tier depiction: foreground shows household śauca practice and menstrual-period seclusion/rest from rites; background shows a serene jñānī in meditation with a luminous non-dual aura, symbolizing ‘no second’ perception beyond social distinctions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: domestic scene with women observing ṛtu-kāla restrictions (resting, not entering ritual space), contrasted with a central meditating sage radiating calm, stylized lotus and halo motifs, strong outlines and flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-backed meditating jñānī as focal point, with smaller side panels of household śauca observances; ornate borders, gold relief emphasizing the ‘Self alone’ radiance.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional diptych—left: śauca rule icons (do/don’t for ṛtu-kāla); right: contemplative sage with caption ‘na dvitīyam’; delicate shading and clear composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: interior zenana scene showing menstrual rest customs rendered respectfully; adjoining garden pavilion with a yogi teaching non-duality to a disciple, refined architectural detail and subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सन्त्यजेद्→सन् त्यजेत् (participle + optative); दूषितान्नारीमृतुकाले→दूषिताम् नारीम् ऋतुकाले; नात्र→न अत्र; ya in IAST normalized to यः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Strī-dharma and śauca rules; Agni Purana: Mokṣa/jñāna-oriented passages where dualities are transcended
FAQs
It gives a shauca (purity) injunction regarding a woman’s ritual status during ṛtukāla (menses) and frames it alongside a non-dual (ātma-advaita) perspective that relativizes social-purity rules for one established in non-dual realization.
In a single verse it combines Dharma-shastra style social/ritual regulation (purity norms) with Upanishadic Advaita language (“not seeing a second besides the Self”), illustrating how the Agni Purana ranges from practical household law to high metaphysics.
It distinguishes between external purity disciplines that guide ordinary conduct and the inner standpoint of Self-knowledge, implying that karmic/ritual rules operate within perceived duality, while realization of non-duality transforms one’s relationship to such injunctions.