Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 29
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
गोबधो ऽयाज्य संयाज्यं पारदार्यात्मविक्रियः गुरुमातृपितृत्यागः स्वाध्ययाग्न्योः सुतस्य च
gobadho 'yājya saṃyājyaṃ pāradāryātmavikriyaḥ gurumātṛpitṛtyāgaḥ svādhyayāgnyoḥ sutasya ca
গোহত্যা; অযাজ্য ব্যক্তিৰ বাবে যাজন কৰা বা তাত অংশ লোৱা; পৰস্ত্ৰীগমন; আত্মবিক্ৰয় (নিজকে বিক্ৰী কৰা); গুৰু, মাতা বা পিতাক ত্যাগ; আৰু স্বাধ্যায়, পবিত্ৰ অগ্নি আৰু পুত্ৰক অৱহেলা—এইবোৰ নিন্দিত কৰ্ম।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Prāyaścitta","practical_application":"Checklist of censured acts used for self-audit, community discipline, and determining expiations (including major sins involving violence, ritual corruption, sexual misconduct, and neglect of duties).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nindita-karmāṇi: cow-killing, ritual impropriety, adultery, abandonment of duties","lookup_keywords":["gobadha","ayājya","saṃyājya","paradāra","svādhyāya-agni"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates grave censured acts spanning violence (cow-killing), ritual transgression (serving the unfit), sexual wrongdoing, self-sale, abandonment of parents/teacher, and neglect of svādhyāya, sacred fires, and one’s son."}
Concept: Dharma is upheld by non-violence toward sacred life (cow), purity of yajña, sexual fidelity, non-commodification of the self, and steadfastness in guru/parental duties, svādhyāya, agnihotra, and progeny-care.
Application: Maintain ritual eligibility checks, avoid corrupt priestly service, preserve household fires and study, and treat family obligations as religious duties.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations and prohibited acts)
Primary Rasa: bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: bībhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau showing symbolic vignettes: a protected cow with a prohibition sign; a yajña where an unfit patron is refused; a household scene emphasizing fidelity; a student tending sacred fires and studying; elders (guru, mother, father) honored—contrasted with the censured neglect.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative panels around a central ācārya: cow protected, yajña with proper eligibility, brahmacārin tending agni, family honoring parents; bold outlines, ritual objects (kuśa, ladles), admonitory tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central dharma-teacher with gold halo; surrounding medallions: cow, yajña-vedi, agni-kuṇḍa, svādhyāya palm-leaves, parents seated; rich gold ornamentation, moral iconography.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like composition with labeled scenes (gobadha/ayājya/paradāra/svādhyāya-agni); delicate colors, clarity of ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined domestic and courtly scenes: priest declining an improper patron, scholar with manuscript, family honoring elders; fine architectural detail, subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gobadho → go-badhaḥ; 'yājya → a-yājyaḥ (elision after avagraha); saṃyājyaṃ → saṃ-yājyam; pāradāryātmavikriyaḥ → pāra-dārya-ātma-vikriyaḥ; gurumātṛpitṛtyāgaḥ → guru-mātṛ-pitṛ-tyāgaḥ; svādhyayāgnyoḥ → svādhyaya-agnyoḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 168 (lists of nindita/mahāpātaka acts; prāyaścitta framing)
FAQs
It defines ritually and ethically prohibited actions in Dharma/Prāyaścitta terms—especially the technical yajña categories ayājya (unqualified patron) and saṃyājya (participating/officiating with such a person), along with duties like svādhyāya and agni-maintenance.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves Dharma-shāstra material: classifications of sins, social-ritual disqualifications, and household obligations—functioning like a compendium of religious law and practice.
The verse highlights actions that damage ritual eligibility and moral standing; avoiding them protects one’s dharma, sustains household sanctity (svādhyāya and sacred fires), and prevents heavy negative karma associated with violence, sexual misconduct, and abandonment of dependents and elders.