Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 23
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
द्वितीयं वैश्यशूद्रयोरेति क , ख , ङ , ञ च शुष्काणि दग्धमंसानि इति ङ प्राजापत्याद्द्विजः शुचिरिति ख अग्निहोत्रपरीद्धाग्निर्ब्राह्मणः कामचारतः चान्द्रायणं चरेन्मासं वीरवध्वासनं हितं
dvitīyaṃ vaiśyaśūdrayoreti ka , kha , ṅa , ña ca śuṣkāṇi dagdhamaṃsāni iti ṅa prājāpatyāddvijaḥ śuciriti kha agnihotraparīddhāgnirbrāhmaṇaḥ kāmacārataḥ cāndrāyaṇaṃ carenmāsaṃ vīravadhvāsanaṃ hitaṃ
বৈশ্য আৰু শূদ্ৰৰ বাবে দ্বিতীয় (নিম্ন) প্ৰায়শ্চিত্ত-স্তৰ নিৰ্ধাৰিত—ক, খ, ঙ, ঞ পাঠভেদত তেনে পোৱা যায়। ঙ-পাঠত ‘শুষ্ক বা অগ্নিদগ্ধ মাংস’ গ্ৰহণৰ কথা আছে; খ-পাঠত ‘প্ৰাজাপত্য ব্ৰত কৰিলে দ্বিজ শুচি হয়’ বুলি কোৱা হৈছে। কামবশত অগ্নিহোত্ৰৰ বাবে অগ্নি প্ৰজ্বলিত ৰাখা ব্ৰাহ্মণে এক মাহ চন্দ্ৰায়ণ ব্ৰত পালন কৰিব; ই ‘বীৰবধ্বাসন’ নামেও উল্লিখিত, হিতকাৰী প্ৰায়শ্চিত্ত।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Selecting an appropriate prāyaścitta (expiation) by varṇa/adhikāra and by the specific fault (kāmacāra while maintaining agnihotra-fires), including undertaking Cāndrāyaṇa for a month as purification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Cāndrāyaṇa as expiation for kāmacāra with maintained Agnihotra; varṇa-graded prāyaścitta notes","lookup_keywords":["Cāndrāyaṇa","Prāyaścitta","Agnihotra","Prājāpatya","varṇa-bheda"],"quick_summary":"The verse situates graded expiations (including variant readings) and prescribes a month-long Cāndrāyaṇa for a Brāhmaṇa who has acted from lust/undisciplined conduct while keeping the agnihotra fires. It also preserves recension-variants about diet and the purificatory effect of Prājāpatya."}
Concept: Pāpa-śuddhi through regulated vrata (Cāndrāyaṇa/Prājāpatya) and varṇa-adhikāra-based gradation of expiation.
Application: Use dharma-text categories to choose a proportional penance, emphasizing restraint, ritual discipline, and restoration of social-ritual purity.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic sacred-fire setting with a Brāhmaṇa before the three fires, undertaking a month-long Cāndrāyaṇa discipline; nearby, a palm-leaf manuscript margin shows variant readings about diet and Prājāpatya purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a Brāhmaṇa in white dhoti seated near glowing agnihotra fires, ritual vessels (sruk, sruva), calm penitential posture, manuscript leaf with variant akṣaras in the border, sacred domestic altar ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central agnihotra altar with bright flames, Brāhmaṇa devotee performing prāyaścitta, ornate arch framing, gold-leaf highlights on fire and vessels, minimal background, emphasis on ritual purity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional composition: labeled ritual items, Brāhmaṇa observing Cāndrāyaṇa regimen, neat linework, soft colors, didactic clarity, manuscript variant notes depicted as marginal glosses.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate household yajña scene, fine detailing of utensils and fire, scholar-priest reading from a manuscript with variant recensions, subdued penitential mood, delicate borders and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vaiśyaśūdrayoḥ → vaiśya-śūdrayoḥ (dvandva); dagdhamaṃsāni → dagdha-maṃsāni; prājāpatyāddvijaḥ → prājāpatyāt dvijaḥ; śuciriti → śuciḥ iti; agnihotraparīddhāgnirbrāhmaṇaḥ → agnihotra-parīddha-agniḥ brāhmaṇaḥ; carenmāsaṃ → caret māsam; vīravadhvāsanaṃ → vīra-vadhvā-āsanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (Prāyaścitta section: mahāpātaka/upapātaka lists and expiations)
FAQs
It prescribes specific prāyaścitta options—Prājāpatya and a month-long Cāndrāyaṇa—linked to ritual status (dvija/Brāhmaṇa) and conduct, with notes on variant manuscript readings.
It shows the text functioning like a Dharma-shastra manual: cataloguing expiations, social applicability (Vaiśya/Śūdra vs. dvija), and vow-structures (Cāndrāyaṇa), alongside recension-aware transmission.
The verse frames penance as a purifier that restores ritual fitness and mitigates karmic fault arising from desire-driven misconduct, especially for those responsible for maintaining Vedic sacred fires.