Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
ब्राह्मणान्नञ्च शूद्रेण नाद्याच्चैव निमन्त्रितः एषामन्यतमस्यान्नममत्या वा त्र्यहं क्षपेत्
brāhmaṇānnañca śūdreṇa nādyāccaiva nimantritaḥ eṣāmanyatamasyānnamamatyā vā tryahaṃ kṣapet
শূদ্ৰক নিমন্ত্ৰিত হ’লেও ব্ৰাহ্মণৰ অন্ন ভক্ষণ কৰা উচিত নহয়। এই দুজনৰ যিকোনো এজনৰ অন্ন আনজনেই জেনে বা অসাৱধানতাত খালে, তেন্তে তিন ৰাতি (তিন দিন) প্ৰায়শ্চিত্ত পালন কৰিব।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s dharma instructions to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Food-discipline and commensality rules to maintain ritual purity; specifies a short expiation (three nights) if the boundary is crossed knowingly or negligently.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Commensality restriction and three-night expiation (Brāhmaṇa–Śūdra food)","lookup_keywords":["śūdra-bhojana","brāhmaṇānna","nimantraṇa","trirātra-prāyaścitta","anna-śauca"],"quick_summary":"A Śūdra should not partake of a Brāhmaṇa’s food even when invited; if either party consumes the other’s food, a three-night expiation is prescribed, whether done knowingly or by negligence."}
Concept: Śauca through regulated food-relations; accountability for intentional and negligent transgression.
Application: Maintain clear boundaries in shared meals; if violated, undertake time-bound penance to restore ritual eligibility.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Acharavidhi (Rules of conduct, purity, and expiation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formal meal setting where a Śūdra, though invited, refrains from touching a Brāhmaṇa’s served food; a small inset shows a three-night penance observance (austerity posture, minimal diet).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette; a dharma-ācārya instructing on food purity, a seated brāhmaṇa with leaf-plate, invited śūdra respectfully declining; inset of trirātra vrata with simple mat and water pot; flat decorative ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold work; central figure of a brāhmaṇa householder with ritual vessels, an invited guest scene emphasizing restraint; gold-highlighted utensils and halo-like aureoles; side panel showing three-night expiation with fasting symbolism.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework; instructional tableau of dining protocol, labels for ‘nimantraṇa’ and ‘anna-śauca’; secondary vignette of three-night penance with controlled posture and water pot.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly dining chamber; detailed textiles and trays; the invited guest politely abstains; marginal scene of ascetic penance over three nights with sparse setting and calligraphic caption."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्राह्मणान्नञ्च = ब्राह्मण-अन्नम् + च; नाद्याच्चैव = न + अद्यात् + च + एव; एषामन्यतमस्य = एषाम् + अन्यतमस्य; त्र्यहं = त्रि-अहम् (द्विगु); अन्नममत्या = अन्नम् + अमत्या (no sandhi change).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (śauca/anna-doṣa/prāyaścitta sequence)
FAQs
It gives an acharavidhi rule on prohibited food-sharing (especially a Śūdra eating a Brāhmaṇa’s food, even if invited) and prescribes a three-night/three-day prāyaścitta if the rule is violated knowingly or by negligence.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma regulations—here, detailed social-ritual norms about dining purity and the corresponding expiation—showing its coverage of law-like conduct codes alongside other sciences.
The verse frames improper eating across prescribed boundaries as a purity fault requiring atonement; the three-night expiation is meant to neutralize the karmic/ritual impurity arising from the transgression, whether intentional or inadvertent.