Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 19
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
अहस्त्वदत्तकन्यासु प्रदत्तासु त्र्यहं भवेत् पक्षिणी संस्कृतास्वेव स्वस्रादिषु विधीयते
ahastvadattakanyāsu pradattāsu tryahaṃ bhavet pakṣiṇī saṃskṛtāsveva svasrādiṣu vidhīyate
В отношении девушек, выданных замуж без обряда «передачи руки» (hastadāna) и лишь «отданных» (pradattāḥ), предписывается трёхдневный срок (соблюдения/нечистоты). Так называемое соблюдение pakṣiṇī вменяется только тем, кто должным образом освящён обрядами, как сестра и тому подобные.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Determining the correct duration/type of āśauca/observance based on whether a maiden’s marriage included proper hastadāna and saṃskāra; applying pakṣiṇī only where ritually valid.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Hastadāna vs. pradattā marriage: observance periods; pakṣiṇī applicability","lookup_keywords":["hastadāna","pradattā","pakṣiṇī","āśauca","kanyā-udvāha"],"quick_summary":"If a maiden is married without formal hand-giving (hastadāna) and is only ‘given’ (pradattā), a three-day observance applies; pakṣiṇī is prescribed only for properly consecrated relations (e.g., sister) where full rites were performed."}
Concept: Ritual form (saṃskāra) determines social-religious status and consequent purity/observance rules.
Application: When adjudicating family observances, verify whether marriage rites were properly completed before applying stricter/particular observances like pakṣiṇī.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Sanskara-vidhi (Marriage and purity rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marriage setting contrasting two cases: one with formal hand-giving (hastadāna) before the sacred fire, and another simplified ‘giving’ without the key rite; a priest indicates the resulting observance period.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split-panel composition—left: proper vivāha with hastadāna near agni, right: incomplete giving; priest gestures to a palm-leaf rule; restrained, didactic mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate wedding scene with gold-leaf highlights on agni-kuṇḍa and jewelry; priest and elders performing hastadāna; border text-cartouche indicating ‘triyaham’ and ‘pakṣiṇī’ as labels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional diagram-like painting showing ritual steps (hastadāna present/absent) with neat detailing of hands joined, water vessel, fire altar; captions for observance durations.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly domestic wedding interior; careful depiction of hand-giving gesture, attendants, priest; marginal note-like panels showing the alternate case; soft colors, documentary feel."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अहस्त्वदत्तकन्यासु treated as compound; संस्कृतास्वेव = संस्कृतासु + एव; स्वस्रादिषु = स्वसृ + आदि + षु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (āśauca and saṃskāra-niyama cluster)
FAQs
It distinguishes impurity/observance periods connected with marriage-giving: a three-day rule applies when a maiden is given without formal hastadāna, while the specialized pakṣiṇī observance is reserved for properly saṃskṛta (rite-completed) relations such as a sister.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma regulations—here, fine-grained legal-ritual distinctions about marriage procedure and resulting observances—reflecting its Smṛti-like, encyclopedic scope.
By prescribing the correct observance (tryaha/pakṣiṇī) according to the validity and completeness of rites, it safeguards ritual purity and right conduct (dharma), which is held to support auspicious karmic outcomes and social-religious order.