Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 36
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
कार्यमेव तथा भवेदिति छ , ङ , ञ च कार्यमेतत्तथा भवेदिति झ राजाज्ञाकारका इति ट न निर्दहेदिति ख तयोर्दोषो ऽभिजायते इति ङ सङ्ग्रामे जयमाप्नोति प्रेते ऽनाथे च काष्ठदः सङ्कल्प्य बान्धवं प्रेतमपसव्येन तां चितिं
kāryameva tathā bhavediti cha , ṅa , ña ca kāryametattathā bhavediti jha rājājñākārakā iti ṭa na nirdahediti kha tayordoṣo 'bhijāyate iti ṅa saṅgrāme jayamāpnoti prete 'nāthe ca kāṣṭhadaḥ saṅkalpya bāndhavaṃ pretamapasavyena tāṃ citiṃ
“कार्यमेव तथा भवेत्”—इति; “कार्यं एतत्तथा भवेत्”—इति च। राजाज्ञाकारकाः अपि (अत्र) गण्यन्ते। न निर्दहेत्; अन्यथा तयोर्दोषोऽभिजायते। सङ्ग्रामे जयमाप्नोति प्रेतेऽनाथे च काष्ठदः; सङ्कल्प्य बान्धवं प्रेतम् अपसव्येन तां चितिं गच्छेत्।
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s primary narration, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Procedural rules for authorized cremation and charitable provision of fuel; includes king’s-command exception and ritual adoption/apasavya approach to the pyre.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kāṣṭha-dāna and apasavya approach for anātha-preta; authorization and fault","lookup_keywords":["kashtha-dana","raja-ajna","nirdahana-dosha","apasavya","sankalpya-bandhava"],"quick_summary":"Cremation-related acts must be done as prescribed and/or under proper authority; improper cremation creates mutual fault. Providing wood for an unprotected dead and ritually adopting him as kin, then approaching the pyre apasavya, yields great merit (even ‘victory in battle’ as a stated fruit)."}
Concept: Niyama (rule-bound action) and adhikāra (authorization) in rites; saṅkalpa transforms social relation (adopting as kin) to complete duty toward the dead.
Application: When aiding an unclaimed dead, make a clear saṅkalpa of kinship, follow apasavya protocol, and ensure rites are authorized and correctly performed to avoid doṣa.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi / Antyeṣṭi (Funerary rites and post-death duties)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Veera
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A helper brings bundles of funeral wood to an unclaimed corpse’s pyre; he performs a mental saṅkalpa of kinship and approaches the pyre with yajñopavīta worn apasavya, while officials indicate royal authorization.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, cremation ground with stacked wood, attendant holding wood offerings, gesture of saṅkalpa at heart, sacred thread reversed, a royal messenger/insignia indicating rājājñā, solemn palette and stylized trees","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central figure offering wood to the pyre, gold highlights on ritual thread and fire, minimal but iconic attendants, emphasis on dharma-phala (victory) symbolized by a small banner or conch motif","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: correct apasavya thread position, approach to pyre, wood donation, small inset showing ‘improper cremation’ crossed out, fine detailing and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed wood bundles, officials with scroll/royal seal, cremation ground landscape, nuanced human expressions, careful depiction of apasavya thread and ritual gestures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kāryameva = kāryam eva; bhavediti = bhavet iti; kāryametat = kāryam etat; rājājñākārakāḥ = rājā-ājñā-kārakāḥ; nirdahediti = nirdhahet iti (nir-√dah, optative); tayordoṣo 'bhijāyate = tayoḥ doṣaḥ abhijāyate; jayamāpnoti = jayam āpnoti; prete 'nāthe = prete anāthe.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157 (Antyeṣṭi rules; śauca follow-ups)
FAQs
It teaches a specific pretakriyā rule: cremation must be done according to prescribed procedure; aiding an unclaimed deceased by providing pyre-wood is meritorious, and the helper should perform the act in apasavya mode (the funerary orientation).
It combines ritual law (antyeṣṭi procedure), social ethics (care for the anātha—one without relatives), and governance (mention of those acting under royal command), showing how the text integrates dharma, state function, and practical rites in one compendium.
Providing cremation wood for an unclaimed dead person is presented as a high-merit act yielding auspicious results (symbolized as “victory in battle”), while improper cremation creates doṣa (ritual fault) for all involved.