Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 65
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
समानं लघ्वशौचन्तु प्रथमेन समापयेत् असमानं द्वितीयेन धर्मराजवचो यथा
samānaṃ laghvaśaucantu prathamena samāpayet asamānaṃ dvitīyena dharmarājavaco yathā
समानं लघ्वशौचं प्रथमेन विधिना समापयेत्; असमानं तु द्वितीयेन विधिना—धर्मराजस्य वचनानुसारतः॥
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Applying a two-rule system for minor impurity periods—how to conclude equal vs unequal durations—citing Dharmarāja as authority; useful for administrators/priests standardizing practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Equal vs unequal laghu-ashaucha completion rules (Dharmarāja-vacana)","lookup_keywords":["laghu ashaucha","equal period","unequal period","Dharmarāja","Yama"],"quick_summary":"When minor impurity periods match, conclude by the first rule; when they do not match, conclude by the second rule—grounded in Dharmarāja’s authoritative statement."}
Concept: Dharma operates through calibrated rules; when cases differ (sama/viṣama), the method of completion changes under recognized authority (Yama/Dharmarāja).
Application: Helps resolve disputes in community practice about when laghu-ashaucha ends, supporting consistent ritual scheduling.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dharma-shastra (Ashauca–Shuddhi / Purity Regulations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A judge-like Dharmarāja motif in the background as a symbolic authority while a priest demonstrates two cases: equal and unequal minor impurity periods, shown as balanced vs unbalanced scales.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic Dharmarāja seated with staff and ledger in the upper register, below a priest shows two scale-panels ‘sama’ and ‘viṣama’ laghu-ashaucha, bold outlines and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Dharmarāja as regal figure with gold ornamentation, beneath him two gold-bordered panels illustrating equal vs unequal ashaucha completion, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional split-scene: left ‘sama’ case completed by ‘first rule’, right ‘asama’ by ‘second rule’, neat labels, manuscript and counting beads","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, legal consultation scene with a qazi-like pandit, marginal illustration of scales and two timelines, refined detailing and calligraphic captions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लघ्वशौचन्तु = लघु-अशौचम् + तु (m-sandhi: -m + t-); धर्मराजवचो = धर्मराजवचः (visarga sandhi before yathā)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158.63-64 (overlap and precedence); Agni Purana 158.66-67 (override and timing rules)
FAQs
It teaches how to conclude a minor aśauca (ritual impurity) period: if the case is “equal/matching,” apply the first rule; if “unequal,” apply the second rule, following Dharmarāja’s legal-religious injunction.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves Dharma-śāstra-style procedural rules—here, a technical distinction used to compute and finalize impurity periods, reflecting its wide coverage of social-religious law.
Correctly observing and concluding aśauca restores ritual eligibility and purity, aligning conduct with dharma and preventing fault (doṣa) in rites performed during or after impurity.