Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 51
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
गोत्रजस्तु गृहीत्वा तु चितां चारोपयेत्तदा आहिताग्निर्यथान्यायं दग्धव्यस्तिभिरग्निभिः
gotrajastu gṛhītvā tu citāṃ cāropayettadā āhitāgniryathānyāyaṃ dagdhavyastibhiragnibhiḥ
แล้วผู้ที่อยู่ในโคตรเดียวกันพึงรับศพและวางขึ้นบนเชิงตะกอน ผู้รักษาไฟศักดิ์สิทธิ์ (อาหิตาคนิ) พึงเผาตามกฎด้วยไฟพิธีกรรมที่กำหนด
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Assigning the correct officiant/agent (gotra member) to place the body on the pyre and specifying that an āhitāgni uses consecrated ritual fires for cremation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Antyeṣṭi: gotra responsibility and cremation by āhitāgni ritual fires","lookup_keywords":["gotraja","citā-āropaṇa","āhitāgni","tretāgni","antyeṣṭi-agni"],"quick_summary":"A member of the same gotra should place the body on the pyre; if the deceased/householder is an āhitāgni, cremation should be performed using the prescribed consecrated fires."}
Concept: Rites are lineage-anchored (gotra duty) and fire is a sacred medium; consecrated fires carry continuity of Vaidika life into the final saṃskāra.
Application: In funeral planning, identify the gotra-eligible performer and determine whether āhitāgni status requires use of ritual fires rather than merely laukika fire.
Khanda Section: Antyeshti-vidhi (Funeral Rites and Post-death Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A gotra-relative lifts the body and places it on the pyre; nearby are marked sacred fires (āhavanīya/gārhapatya/dakṣiṇa) used to ignite the cremation according to rule.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: cremation ground with three stylized fire altars, a gotra elder placing the body on the citā, priests chanting, flat iconic flames, restrained palette and solemn symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted fire altars and ritual implements, central pyre with covered body, gotra elder in prominent pose, ornate border, luminous sacred fire motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical depiction of the three fires and their use, labeled altars, the act of citā-āropaṇa shown clearly, soft shading and didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed pyre construction, attendants, priests, distinct fire sources carried in vessels, landscape depth, smoke and light rendered delicately."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गोत्रजस्तु = गोत्रजः + तु; चितां चारोपयेत् = चिताम् + च + आरोपयेत्; आहिताग्निर् = आहिताग्निः (विसर्ग-लोप); यथान्यायम् = यथा + न्यायम् (अव्ययीभाव); दग्धव्यस्तिभिरग्निभिः = दग्धव्यः + तिभिः + अग्निभिः (पदच्छेदे ‘तिभिः’ पाठः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158.52 (anāhitāgni/laukika fire distinction); Agni Purana 158.50 (body preparation for cremation)
FAQs
It specifies the officiant-duty in cremation: a gotra-relative should place the body on the pyre, and an āhitāgni should perform cremation using the properly maintained ritual fires according to rule (yathānyāyam).
Alongside theology and praise of deities, the Agni Purana preserves applied dharma—practical, step-by-step social-ritual regulations (here, funeral protocol and eligibility), reflecting its broad coverage of rites, law, and household religion.
Performing cremation by the prescribed fires and by the proper kin is presented as a dharmic act that supports purification and orderly transition of the departed, while also protecting the ritual integrity (śuddhi) of the family line.