Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Chapter 156 — द्रव्यशुद्धिः (Dravya-śuddhi) / Purification of Substances
दुष्टानामिति ट शोधनान्म्रक्षणाद्वस्त्रे मृत्तिकाद्भिर्विशोधनं बहुवस्त्रे प्रोक्षणाच्च दारवाणाञ्च तक्षणात्
duṣṭānāmiti ṭa śodhanānmrakṣaṇādvastre mṛttikādbhirviśodhanaṃ bahuvastre prokṣaṇācca dāravāṇāñca takṣaṇāt
สำหรับสิ่งของที่แปดเปื้อน การชำระทำด้วยการชำระล้างและการเช็ดถู; ผ้าชำระด้วยดิน (ดินเหนียว) และน้ำ; ผ้าจำนวนมากชำระด้วยการประพรม (โปรกษณะ); และของไม้ชำระด้วยการไส/ขูดผิว (ตักษณะ)
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Decontamination methods by material: wiping/cleansing for defiled items, clay-and-water for cloth, sprinkling for bulk garments, and planing/scraping for wood—useful for temples, households, and communal spaces.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Viśodhana by material: vastra, bahu-vastra, dāru","lookup_keywords":["viśodhana","vastra-śuddhi","mṛttikā","prokṣaṇa","dāru-takṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Impure items are purified by cleaning and wiping; cloth by clay and water; many garments by sprinkling; wooden objects by planing/scraping—each method suited to the substrate."}
Concept: Purity can be restored either by removal (wiping/scraping), absorption (clay), or symbolic/limited cleansing (sprinkling), reflecting graded responses to impurity and practical constraints.
Application: Choose the least destructive effective method: absorbent cleaning for textiles, surface removal for porous wood, and sprinkling for bulk items when time/resources are limited.
Khanda Section: Shauca-vidhi (Purification rites for persons and materials)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cleaning sequence: attendants wiping defiled items; washing cloth with clay and water; sprinkling water over stacked garments; a carpenter planing a wooden object to remove impurity, under a supervisor’s instruction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative panels of purification acts; earthy tones; clay-and-water washing of cloth; sprinkling over folded garments; wood planing with traditional tools.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-bordered domestic/temple utility scene; stacked garments, sprinkling pot, clay bowl; wood planing rendered with ornate detailing; auspicious cleanliness theme.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional composition; clear depiction of mṛttikā application on cloth and takṣaṇa on wood; fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, lively household workshop; servants cleaning textiles, a water-sprinkler, and a craftsman planing wood; intricate patterns and realistic tools."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śodhanānmrakṣaṇādvastre → śodhanāt mrakṣaṇāt vastre; mṛttikādbhir → mṛttikā adbhiḥ; prokṣaṇācca → prokṣaṇāt ca. The token 'ṭa' appears to be a scribal/edition artifact and is not analyzable as a pada.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 156 (Dravya-śuddhi)
FAQs
It teaches material-specific purification methods: wiping/cleansing for defiled items, clay-and-water washing for cloth, sprinkling for bulk garments, and planing/scraping for wooden objects.
It preserves practical dharma-technical guidance on ritual hygiene (shauca), detailing how different materials are purified—showing the text’s coverage beyond mythology into applied religious procedure.
Following correct shauca is treated as necessary for the validity of worship and rites; removing impurity from materials supports ritual fitness (adhikāra) and reduces the demerit associated with negligence in cleanliness.