Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 10
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
अनिर्दिशं च प्रेतान्नं गवाघ्रातं तथैव च शूद्रोच्छिष्टं शुनोच्छिष्टं पतितान्नं तथैव च
anirdiśaṃ ca pretānnaṃ gavāghrātaṃ tathaiva ca śūdrocchiṣṭaṃ śunocchiṣṭaṃ patitānnaṃ tathaiva ca
మూలం/స్వామ్యం నిర్దిష్టం కాని అన్నం, ప్రేతకర్మలకు సంబంధించిన అన్నం, ఆవు వాసన చూసిన అన్నం, శూద్రుని ఉచ్ఛిష్టం, కుక్క ఉచ్ఛిష్టం, పతితుని అన్నం—ఇవన్నీ అపవిత్రమైనవిగా వర్జ్యము.
Lord Agni (narrating purificatory and dharma rules, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Everyday purity screening for food sources and contact-contamination (death rites, animals, leftovers, outcast association).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Impure foods to be avoided (anna-doṣa list)","lookup_keywords":["anirdiṣṭa-anna","preta-anna","gavāghrāta","ucchiṣṭa","patita-anna"],"quick_summary":"Avoid food of uncertain provenance, funerary-associated food, food smelt by a cow, leftovers of a Śūdra or dog, and food from a fallen/outcaste person—these are treated as impure for consumption."}
Concept: Śauca depends on provenance and contact; purity is relational (source, handler, and context).
Application: Adopt provenance-checking and avoid contact-contaminated food in domestic and ritual settings.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Shaucha-vidhi (Rules of purity and food discipline)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sequence of small scenes illustrating each impure food category: unknown-source food, funerary offering context, cow smelling a dish, leftovers, dog’s leftovers, and an outcaste-associated offering—each marked as ‘to be avoided’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with narrative panels; six compartments showing the impure-food cases; clear gestures of refusal; muted tones with decorative borders; emphasis on didactic clarity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore iconographic panels with gold separators; each panel shows a dish and its contaminating context (cow sniffing, funeral rite, leftovers); gold accents on vessels; ‘avoid’ conveyed through hand gesture (niṣedha-mudrā).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, schematic instructional chart; labeled mini-scenes for anirdiṣṭa, preta, gavāghrāta, śūdrochiṣṭa, śunocchiṣṭa, patitānna; fine linework and readable composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with multiple vignettes; domestic kitchen, cremation-ground offering scene, courtyard with cow, street dog near leftovers; refined detail and calligraphic captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Asavari","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रेतान्नं = प्रेत-अन्नम्; गवाघ्रातं = गवा-आघ्रातम्; शूद्रोच्छिष्टं = शूद्र-उच्छिष्टम्; शुनोच्छिष्टं = शुनः-उच्छिष्टम्; पतितान्नं = पतित-अन्नम्; तथैव = तथा + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (anna-śauca lists; aśauca linkage)
FAQs
It lists categories of aśuddha-anna (ritually impure foods) that should be avoided due to contamination, improper attribution, association with death rites, or contact with animals/people considered ritually polluting in dharma literature.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical Dharma-shastra material—daily-life regulations on purity, diet, and social-ritual conduct—showing its wide coverage of governance of life, not only mythic narration.
Avoiding impure food is presented as safeguarding ritual fitness and inner purity; it reduces impurity (aśauca/doṣa) that can obstruct merit (puṇya), worship, and disciplined spiritual practice.