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
کھانا کھا کر جب ہاتھ ابھی گیلا ہو، یا پانی کے اندر ہو؛ آدھی رات کے وقت؛ تیز آندھی میں؛ گرد کی بارش میں؛ جب سمتیں جلتی ہوئی محسوس ہوں؛ اور شام کے دھندلے وقت اور خوف کے لمحوں میں (کرم) سے پرہیز کرنا چاہیے۔
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).