Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
उपाकर्मणि चोत्सर्गं स्वशाखाश्रोत्रिये तथा सन्ध्यागर्जितनिर्घाते भूकम्पोल्कानिपातने
upākarmaṇi cotsargaṃ svaśākhāśrotriye tathā sandhyāgarjitanirghāte bhūkampolkānipātane
ఉపాకర్మంలోను, (వేద-)ఉత్సర్గంలోను; అలాగే స్వశాఖకు చెందిన శ్రోత్రియునికి బోధించే సందర్భంలోను; సంధ్యాసమయంలో మెరుపు గర్జన-నిర్ఘాతం జరిగినప్పుడు, భూకంపం వచ్చినప్పుడు, లేదా ఉల్కాపాతం జరిగినప్పుడు—ఈ సందర్భాలలో (అనధ్యాయం మొదలైన) నియమం వర్తిస్తుంది.
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic ritual injunctions to Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Enumerates occasions affecting Vedic recitation/teaching—Upākarman, Utsarga, instruction to a śrotriya of one’s śākhā, and natural omens (twilight thunder, earthquake, meteor)—supporting compliance with anadhyāya/exception rules in daily Vedic life.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Anadhyāya triggers: rites, teaching contexts, and omens","lookup_keywords":["upākarman","utsarga","śrotriya","sandhyā-garjita","bhūkampa-ulkā"],"quick_summary":"Lists ritual and environmental conditions that govern suspension/exception in Vedic study: Upākarman/Utsarga contexts, teaching a śrotriya of one’s branch, and ominous disturbances like twilight thunder, earthquakes, and meteors. Practical takeaway: maintain a protocol to pause recitation during such times."}
Concept: Sacred learning is context-sensitive; dharma prescribes restraint in speech/recitation during liminal times and disruptive portents.
Application: Create institutional rules for pāṭhaśālās: suspend chanting during storms at sandhyā, earthquakes, meteor sightings; resume via prescribed rites (Upākarman/Utsarga) as applicable.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic rites and expiations / ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vedic class pauses as twilight thunder cracks; in the sky a meteor streaks, and the ground subtly trembles—teacher signals suspension while Upākarman/Utsarga ritual items are nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic twilight gradient, stylized lightning and meteor, guru and students in paused posture, ritual items arranged, bold outlines and symbolic depiction of earthquake ripples.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, twilight scene with gold leaf on lightning and meteor trail, figures under a decorative canopy, teacher gesturing to stop recitation, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: teacher indicating anadhyāya, small vignettes showing earthquake and meteor, clear depiction of manuscripts being closed, fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atmospheric dusk courtyard, meteor in detailed sky, subtle ground fissure motif, scholars reacting with restraint, intricate architecture and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cotsargaṃ → ca + utsargam; svaśākhāśrotriye → sva-śākhā-śrotriye; bhūkampolkānipātane → bhūkampa-ulkā-nipātane.
Related Themes: Agni Purana anadhyāya catalogues (sound/omen-based suspensions); Agni Purana Upākarman/Utsarga procedural passages
FAQs
It lists specific ritual occasions (Upākarman, Veda-Utsarga, instruction to a śrotriya of one’s own śākhā) and exceptional/inauspicious natural events (twilight thunder, earthquakes, meteor-falls) that govern when Vedic study/recitation is to be regulated—typically suspended (anadhyāya) or handled with prescribed exceptions.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa compiles practical dharma-śāstra style rules—here, a technical catalog of study-rites and omen-based restrictions—showing its coverage of day-to-day Vedic discipline, calendrical rites, and ritual law.
Observing anadhyāya/ritual exceptions preserves the purity (śuddhi) and efficacy (phala) of Vedic recitation; it prevents ritual fault (doṣa) and supports disciplined adherence to dharma during liminal or inauspicious conditions.