Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 6
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
त्रिरात्रमाव्रतादेशाद्दशरात्रमतः परं ऊनत्रैवार्षिके शूद्रे पञ्चाहाच्छुद्धिरिष्यते
trirātramāvratādeśāddaśarātramataḥ paraṃ ūnatraivārṣike śūdre pañcāhācchuddhiriṣyate
अव्रतादेशे त्रिरात्रेण शुद्धिः; ततः परं दशरात्रेण। शूद्रे तु ऊनत्रैवार्षिके प्रेते पञ्चाहात् शुद्धिरिष्यते।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Calculating the duration of āśauca/śuddhi based on whether a rite is prescribed with or without vows and based on the age of the deceased (especially for Śūdra households).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āśauca śuddhi: vow-status and age-based day counts (Śūdra child case)","lookup_keywords":["āśauca","śuddhi days","avratādeśa","daśarātra","śūdra child under three"],"quick_summary":"If the rite is prescribed without initiatory vows, purification is three nights; otherwise it extends (here) to ten nights. For a Śūdra when the deceased is under three years, purification is five days."}
Concept: Ritual impurity is time-bound and context-sensitive; dharma specifies proportional observances to restore social and ritual normalcy.
Application: Apply as a household rule to determine when cooking, worship, and social contact may resume after death-related impurity.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Ashauca-vidhi (Purification rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mourning household with elders counting nights/days of impurity, a priest indicating the rule for three-night vs ten-night purification, and a separate vignette for a small child’s death with five-day śuddhi for a Śūdra family.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, solemn palette, family seated on floor with simple white cloth, priest holding palm-leaf, tally marks for nights, ritual water pot, restrained expressions, emphasis on dharma procedure.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents minimal and subdued, priest and family near a small shrine kept closed during āśauca, visual motif of counting beads/days, dignified mourning.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic layout: two panels labeled ‘3 nights’ and ‘10 nights’, plus ‘5 days (Śūdra, <3 years)’, fine lines, calm instructional mood.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed interior with mourners, a learned figure reading from a text, marginal calendar grid showing 3/10/5 day counts, muted colors."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिरात्रमाव्रतादेशाद् = त्रिरात्रम् + आ + व्रतादेशात्; आदेशाद्दशरात्रम् = आदेशात् + दशरात्रम् (त् + द → द्द); पञ्चाहाच्छुद्धिः = पञ्चाहात् + शुद्धिः (त् + श → च्छ)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: adjacent āśauca-vidhi verses in chapter 157
FAQs
It specifies time-frames for ritual purification (śuddhi/āśauca): three nights when rites are prescribed without vrata-observance, otherwise ten nights, and a special five-day rule for a Śūdra when the deceased is under three years old.
It preserves Dharmaśāstra-style procedural norms (time-bound purity regulations) alongside the Purāṇa’s many other subjects, showing the text’s role as a practical compendium for ritual, social duty, and household conduct.
By observing the correct purification period, one restores ritual eligibility for worship and rites, aligning personal conduct with dharma and reducing the disorder associated with death-related impurity.