Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 30
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
शक्या गणयितुं लोके नत्वतीताः पितामहाः काले सततगे स्थैर्यं नास्ति तस्मात् क्रियां चरेत्
śakyā gaṇayituṃ loke natvatītāḥ pitāmahāḥ kāle satatage sthairyaṃ nāsti tasmāt kriyāṃ caret
在此世间，连已逝的祖先尚可计数；然而“时”(kāla)不停流转，毫无恒定。故当迅速奉行所规定的宗教仪轨与行持（kriyā）。
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Niti-shastra","practical_application":"Cultivate urgency in daily dharma—perform nitya/naimittika rites without procrastination, remembering time’s irreversibility.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kāla-anityatā and prompt performance of kriyā","lookup_keywords":["kala","anityata","kriya","dharma-acara","niti"],"quick_summary":"Time is ceaseless and offers no stability; therefore one should promptly undertake prescribed duties and rites rather than delay."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (contrast)
Concept: Kāla is unstoppable; human life and opportunity are unstable, so dharma must be done promptly.
Application: Set fixed times for sandhyā, śrāddha/naimittika rites, vows, charity; avoid postponing dharmic obligations.
Khanda Section: Nīti-śāstra / Dharma-ācāra (Time, impermanence, and prompt performance of duty)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Vairagya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic scene: a teacher points to a flowing river or turning wheel of Time while householders hurry to perform ritual duties; ancestral figures appear as countable silhouettes fading behind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm earthy palette; personified Kāla as a dark flowing figure with a wheel, a guru instructing a householder near a small yajña-kuṇḍa; subtle ancestral silhouettes in the background; temple mural composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf: central allegory of Kāla as a wheel behind a seated ācārya; a householder offering into agni; ornate borders, rich reds and greens, gold highlights on ritual vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean linework; instructional tableau of daily kriyā—sandhyā posture, small altar, water pot; a clock-like kāla-cakra motif above; calm didactic mood.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly scholar advising a noble; a river of time flowing through the scene; small vignettes of rites (homa, dāna) in margins; fine detailing and pastel tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: natvatītāḥ → na + tu + atītāḥ; nāsti → na + asti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dharma-ācāra and śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sections around adhyāya 157; Agni Purana: teachings on kāla, anityatā, and niyama in adjacent nīti passages
FAQs
It teaches kāla-vicāra (reflection on time) as a practical dharma principle: since time is constantly moving and unstable, one should not postpone kriyā—prescribed rites and duties.
Alongside ritual manuals and specialized sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves nīti and dharma guidance; this verse functions as a general ethical-ritual maxim that underpins many applied sections (vrata, dāna, śrāddha, pūjā) by stressing timely performance.
The karmic point is urgency: delaying dharmic action risks losing the opportunity created by human life and circumstance; performing kriyā promptly supports purification (śuddhi) and accrues merit (puṇya).