Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
शूद्रो ऽनुलोमतो दासे स्वामितुल्यन्त्वशौचकं षट्भिस्त्रिभिरथैकेन क्षत्रविट्शूद्रयोनिषु
śūdro 'nulomato dāse svāmitulyantvaśaucakaṃ ṣaṭbhistribhirathaikena kṣatraviṭśūdrayoniṣu
அனுலோம உறவால் பிறந்த சூத்ரன் தாசனாக இருந்தால், அவனுடைய ஆசௌசம் எஜமானனுக்குச் சமம்; மேலும் க்ஷத்திரிய-, வைசிய-, சூத்ர-யோனிகளில் பிறப்பின் போது முறையே ஆறு, மூன்று, ஒரு நாள் ஆசௌசம் உண்டாகும்।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purāṇa’s dharma sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Determining aśauca duration in cases of anuloma birth and in births across kṣatriya/vaiśya/śūdra lineages; aligning household observances with the master’s status where specified.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aśauca durations for anuloma/dāsa cases and graded birth-impurity periods","lookup_keywords":["anuloma","dāsa","aśauca","janana","graded-days"],"quick_summary":"The verse specifies special cases: a dāsa born in anuloma context follows the master’s aśauca; otherwise, birth-impurity durations are graded (six/three/one days) by lineage."}
Concept: Smṛti-style regulation of ritual impurity by social relation and status; aśauca is treated as a rule-governed constraint on ritual action.
Application: When uncertain due to mixed-status household relations, apply the stated rule (master-equivalence or graded day-count) to decide abstentions and concluding purification.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Ashauca (Impurity) and Varna-based regulations
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A juristic-ritual instruction scene: an elder adjudicates aśauca duration for a household with mixed lineage relations; a small tally of 6/3/1 days is shown.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, elder with palm-leaf text indicating 6-3-1, household members in respectful poses, restrained colors, emphasis on rule and order, temple lamp in corner","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore panel with gold-highlighted inscription of day counts, elder seated authoritatively, household grouped by roles, ornate border framing a legal-ritual decision","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting, clear numeric markers (6/3/1) beside labeled lineages, calm figures, minimal background, pedagogic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a qazi-like learned elder in Indic setting explaining rules to a family, fine detailing of garments, small written schedule, composed atmosphere"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शूद्रो ऽनुलोमतो = शूद्रः + अनुलोमतः; स्वामितुल्यन्त्वशौचकं = स्वामितुल्यम् + तु + अशौचकम्; षट्भिस्त्रिभिरथैकेन = षट्भिः + त्रिभिः + अथ + एकेन; क्षत्रविट्शूद्रयोनिषु = क्षत्र + विट् + शूद्र + योनिषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157 (continued aśauca determinations)
FAQs
It specifies the duration of aśauca (ritual impurity) connected with birth, including a rule that a dāsa’s aśauca follows the master’s period, and it lists graded durations for Kṣatriya/Vaiśya/Śūdra births (six/three/one day).
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical dharma-legal material—household ritual law, purity regulations, and social procedure—showing its wide coverage beyond mythic narration.
Observing the prescribed aśauca period is treated as necessary for restoring ritual eligibility (adhikāra) and maintaining purity for rites such as śrāddha, dāna, and daily worship, thereby preventing ritual fault (doṣa).