Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 48
Divya-pramāṇa-kathana
Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure
संश्राव्य पापयेत्तस्माज्जलात्तु प्रसृतित्रयम् आचतुर्दशमादह्नो यस्य नो राजदैविकम्
saṃśrāvya pāpayettasmājjalāttu prasṛtitrayam ācaturdaśamādahno yasya no rājadaivikam
بعد أن يُسمِع الأمرَ (أي يُعلنه أو يعترف به علنًا)، فعليه أن يؤدي الكفّارة؛ ولذلك يشرب ثلاثَ «برسرتي» (prasṛti) من الماء إلى اليوم الرابع عشر، إذا لم تكن الزلّةُ جريمةً ملكيّةً (ضدّ الملك/الدولة) ولا «إلهيّة» (تدنيسًا لحرمة الآلهة).
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Atonement protocol: public acknowledgment/confession and regulated water-drinking (three prasṛtis daily) up to the 14th day for non-royal and non-divine faults.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta by proclamation and water-drinking (3 prasṛti) up to 14 days","lookup_keywords":["prāyaścitta","saṃśrāvya","prasṛti","jala-pāna","caturdaśa-aha"],"quick_summary":"For certain faults not classed as state-crimes or sacrilege, expiation includes making the matter known and drinking a measured quantity of water daily for up to fourteen days."}
Concept: Accountability (saṃśrāvaṇa) and self-restraint (niyama) as means of moral purification; gradation of faults (non-royal, non-divine).
Application: Adopt transparent confession/acknowledgment and a time-bound, measurable penance under guidance, distinguishing private faults from public/state and sacrilegious offenses.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Ritual Atonements and Purifications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent publicly acknowledges a fault before elders, then performs a measured water-drinking vow over a counted series of days.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, village assembly with elders, penitent with añjali, later seated with copper cup measuring prasṛti, palm-leaf tally marks for fourteen days, austere palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, penitent before a small shrine and elders, gold accents on vessels and haloed dharma symbols, emphasis on ritual measure and purity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: measuring three prasṛtis with a standard cup, calendar-like fourteen-day sequence, fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate gathering with scribal record of confession, precise depiction of water vessel and measured cup, architectural interior with carpets"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पापयेत्तस्मात् → पापयेत् + तस्मात्; जलात्तु → जलात् + तु; प्रसृतित्रयम् → प्रसृति-त्रयम्; आचतुर्दशमादह्नो → आ-चतुर्दशम् + आदह्नः (आदह्नः sandhi/orthography); राजदैविकम् → राज-दैविकम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 254 (prāyaścitta and śuddhi procedures; divya-pramāṇa context)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta: public declaration/confession followed by drinking a measured quantity of water (three prasṛtis) as a purification observance extending up to fourteen days for certain minor faults.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical dharma-manual by detailing measurable, time-bound expiations—showing its coverage of ritual law and everyday governance of conduct.
The act of confession plus regulated water-intake serves as a cleansing austerity (tapas) intended to neutralize minor karmic impurity, while distinguishing such faults from graver royal or sacrilegious offences requiring heavier penance.