Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 49
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
भाण्डानि तु परित्यज्य त्र्यहाद्भूलेपतः शुचिः न विप्रं स्वेषु तिष्ठत्सु मृतं शूद्रेण नाययेत्
bhāṇḍāni tu parityajya tryahādbhūlepataḥ śuciḥ na vipraṃ sveṣu tiṣṭhatsu mṛtaṃ śūdreṇa nāyayet
เมื่อทิ้งภาชนะที่ปนเปื้อนแล้ว ครั้นครบสามวันจึงชำระให้บริสุทธิ์ด้วยการทาดินบนพื้นดิน และเมื่อญาติพี่น้องอยู่พร้อม ไม่พึงให้ศูทรเป็นผู้หามศพพราหมณ์
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s common narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Guidance for purification after contamination: discarding affected utensils, earth-smearing for cleansing, and rules of who may carry a corpse to the cremation ground.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Purification by discarding vessels and earth-smearing; restriction on Śūdra carrying a brāhmaṇa corpse","lookup_keywords":["bhāṇḍa-parityāga","mṛd-lepana","tryaha-śauca","śava-vahana","varṇa-ācāra"],"quick_summary":"After contamination, discard the affected vessels and become pure after three days through earth-smearing; additionally, when one’s own people are present, a brāhmaṇa corpse should not be carried by a Śūdra."}
Concept: Purity is maintained through prescribed acts (tyāga, mṛd-lepana, time), and funerary roles follow social-ritual competency rules within the tradition.
Application: Apply as a household protocol: isolate/discard contaminated utensils, perform earth-smearing for three days, and assign corpse-carrying to appropriate kin/eligible persons when available.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Shauca-Ācāra (Purification and Funeral Conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A purification scene: contaminated vessels being set aside/discarded; the ground being smeared with earth; a funeral procession where kin carry the bier while a Śūdra stands aside when relatives are present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split-panel narrative: left—women/men discarding vessels near a washing area; center—earth-smearing of floor with ritual gestures; right—bier carried by kin, restrained figure at margin, flat iconic style, ochre and green tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-accented domestic floor being smeared with earth (mṛd), ritual vessels placed away, dignified figures in profile, ornate borders, lamp glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional composition: labeled items (bhāṇḍa, mṛd, tryaha), a priest demonstrating mṛd-lepana, and a schematic funeral carrying rule, delicate lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with fine detail: courtyard cleaning with earth paste, servants removing utensils, and a small funeral procession in the background, architectural perspective and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्र्यहात् = त्र्यहात् (त्रि + अह); भूलेपतः = भू + लेपतः; तिष्ठत्सु = तिष्ठत् + सु (सप्तमी बहुवचन). नाययेत् = न + आययेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (Śauca–Ācāra and aśauca measures); Agni Purana 158.50–52 (Antyeṣṭi handling and fire rules)
FAQs
It prescribes śauca measures after impurity—discarding contaminated utensils and purification after three days through earth-smearing—plus a rule about who may carry a deceased brāhmaṇa when relatives are available.
It shows the text functioning like a dharma manual: alongside theology, it codifies practical norms on purity, contamination, and funerary procedure—typical of the Agni Purāṇa’s wide-ranging, compendious scope.
Observing prescribed śauca and proper funerary roles is presented as maintaining ritual order (dharma), preventing the spread of impurity, and supporting the deceased’s rites through correctly performed duty.