Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
अध्याय १६२ — धर्मशास्त्रकथनम्
Dharmaśāstra Exposition: Authorities, Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti, Upākarman, and Anadhyāya Rules
भुत्क्वार्द्रपाणिरम्भोन्तरर्धरात्रे ऽतिमारुते पांशुवर्षे दिशान्दाहे सन्ध्यानीहारभीतिषु
bhutkvārdrapāṇirambhontarardharātre 'timārute pāṃśuvarṣe diśāndāhe sandhyānīhārabhītiṣu
భోజనం చేసి చేతి ఇంకా తడిగా ఉన్నప్పుడు, లేదా నీటిలో ఉన్నప్పుడు; అర్ధరాత్రి; తీవ్రమైన గాలుల్లో; ధూళివర్షంలో; దిక్కులు దగ్ధమైనట్లు అనిపించినప్పుడు; అలాగే సంధ్యాకాల మబ్బులు మరియు భయ సమయంలో (కర్మ) వర్జించాలి.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purāṇa discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Observe situational prohibitions and heightened caution: avoid rites/solemn acts immediately after eating, with wet hands, while in water, at midnight, during extreme winds/dust storms, perceived directional conflagrations, and twilight fog/fear—postpone or perform protective measures.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Contingency conditions for ritual restraint: food-state, water, midnight, storms, and fear-omens","lookup_keywords":["bhuktva ardrapani","madhyaratra atimaruta","panshu varsha","sandhya nihara bhiti"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates practical ‘do-not-begin’ conditions—bodily state (post-meal, wet hand), risky environments (in water, midnight), and calamity-omens (violent wind, dust rain, blazing quarters, twilight fog/fear)."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on attentiveness and safety: bodily readiness and environmental stability are prerequisites for śrauta/smārta action.
Application: Before pūjā/japa/homa, ensure clean dry hands, stable setting, and calm time; if calamity signs arise, shift to protective śānti practices or postpone.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual contingencies and expiations; protective rites during omens and calamities)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner about to begin worship stops: hands still wet after washing/eating; scenes of midnight darkness, violent winds, dust storm, a horizon glowing as if directions burn, and foggy twilight inducing fear.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential panels of prohibitive moments—wet-handed devotee, midnight sky, swirling wind and dust, fiery horizon in four quarters, foggy sandhyā—bold outlines and symbolic weather motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure with ritual tray paused, surrounding medallions showing wind, dust rain, midnight, and blazing quarters; gold embellishment and ornate framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional storyboard with captions for each condition (post-meal, wet hand, water, midnight, atimāruta, pāṃśuvarṣa, sandhyā-nihāra), clean and legible composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atmospheric dust storm and twilight fog over a courtyard; a priest pauses near a small altar, lamps flicker in wind, detailed rendering of weather and light"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Darbari","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भुत्क्वा = भुक्त्वा; अर्द्रपाणिरम्भोन्तरर्धरात्रे = आर्द्रपाणिः + अम्भः-अन्तरे + अर्धरात्रे; 'तिमारुते = अति-मārute; दिशान्दाहे = दिशाम् + दाहे; सन्ध्यानीहारभीतिषु is a dvandva in locative plural.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 162 (ritual contingencies; omens; śauca)
FAQs
It lists inauspicious or risky conditions (midnight, storm-winds, dust-storms, eerie sky-omens, twilight fog, fear) during which one should refrain from or take special care with ritual/regulated actions, forming part of śānti (appeasement/protection) discipline.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual pragmatics—environmental omens, timing constraints, and conduct-rules—showing the Purāṇa as a handbook for managing real-world contingencies through dharma and śānti practices.
Observing such prohibitions/precautions is treated as maintaining ritual purity and avoiding doṣa (fault) during ominous times, thereby preventing negative karmic outcomes and supporting protective merit (śānti-puṇya).