Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 171 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Prāyaścittāni / Expiations
ति ख शवन्तत्स्पृष्टिनं श्वानमिति घ , ज च मूत्रोच्चारं द्विजः कृत्वेत्यादिः, पूयन्ते पापिनो ऽखिला इत्य् अन्तः पाठः ज , झ पुस्तके नास्ति अथ एकसप्तत्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः प्रायश्चित्तानि पुष्कर उवाच प्रायश्चित्तं रहस्यादि वक्ष्ये शुद्धिकरं पर पौरुषेण तु सूक्तेन मासं जप्यादिनाघहा
ti kha śavantatspṛṣṭinaṃ śvānamiti gha , ja ca mūtroccāraṃ dvijaḥ kṛtvetyādiḥ, pūyante pāpino 'khilā ity antaḥ pāṭhaḥ ja , jha pustake nāsti atha ekasaptatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ prāyaścittāni puṣkara uvāca prāyaścittaṃ rahasyādi vakṣye śuddhikaraṃ para pauruṣeṇa tu sūktena māsaṃ japyādināghahā
পাণ্ডুলিপিতে পাঠভেদ উল্লেখ আছে—কোথাও ‘শব-স্পৃষ্ট কুকুর’, অন্যত্র ‘দ্বিজ মূত্রোচ্চার করে…’ ইত্যাদি; কোনো পাঠে শেষে ‘সকল পাপী শুদ্ধ হয়’ আছে, আর এক পাণ্ডুলিপিতে এই অংশ নেই। এখন ১৭১তম অধ্যায় ‘প্রায়শ্চিত্ত’ আরম্ভ। পুষ্কর বললেন—আমি গূঢ় প্রভৃতি, পরম ও শুদ্ধিকর প্রায়শ্চিত্ত বলছি; এক মাস পাউরুষ সূক্ত জপ করলে মানুষ পাপমুক্ত হয়।
Puṣkara (as the chapter’s internal narrator for prāyaścitta instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Apply Vedic japa (notably Pauruṣa Sūkta) as a timed expiation regimen; also recognize textual variants when transmitting/reciting prāyaścitta passages.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta Chapter Proem: Pauruṣa Sūkta Japa (1 month) and Manuscript Variants","lookup_keywords":["Pauruṣa Sūkta","prāyaścitta","japa","pāṭhabheda","Puṣkara"],"quick_summary":"The chapter begins with Puṣkara’s promise to teach secret and other purifying expiations, highlighting month-long recitation of the Pauruṣa Sūkta as sin-destroying. The verse also preserves manuscript variant readings, signaling a living transmission."}
Concept: Mantra-japa over a fixed kāla (one month) functions as a structured expiatory sādhanā.
Application: Undertake disciplined daily recitation with purity rules and consistency; treat expiation as sustained practice rather than a single act.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sage Puṣkara instructs disciples, holding a manuscript/palm-leaf; beside him a devotee performs month-long japa of the Pauruṣa Sūkta with rosary, indicating disciplined recitation; marginal notes symbolize variant readings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Puṣkara as rishi with matted hair and ochre robes, disciples seated, palm-leaf manuscript with stylized script, japa-mālā in devotee’s hand, calm temple-ashram backdrop","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Puṣkara enthroned as teacher with gold halo, palm-leaf text emphasized with gold detailing, devotee doing japa, ornate frame and rich textile patterns","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic classroom-ashram scene, clear depiction of palm-leaf manuscript and marginal variant marks, devotee counting beads, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly with manuscripts, scribe noting variants, devotee reciting, fine facial expressions and detailed textiles, garden pavilion setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: This item contains extensive manuscript/edition notes; analyzable running verse portion taken as: ‘atha ekasaptatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ … māsaṃ japyāt …’. Sandhi: शततमोऽध्यायः = शततमः + अध्यायः; जप्यादि… treated as जप्यात् + आदि + अघहा (editorial uncertainty).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 171.2 (Aghamarṣaṇa and Gāyatrī-vrata); Agni Purana prāyaścitta sequences on kṛcchra/cāndrāyaṇa
FAQs
It introduces the prāyaścitta-vidhi (expiatory discipline) and prescribes a practical remedy: month-long japa of the Pauruṣa (Puruṣa) Sūkta as a sin-destroying purification.
Alongside myth and theology, it preserves Dharmaśāstra-style operational guidance—manuscript-aware ritual rules, purity concerns, and standardized expiation practices—showing the text’s coverage of lived religious law and ritual technique.
The verse frames Vedic hymn-recitation (japa) as a direct purifier that burns karmic demerit, presenting the Puruṣa Sūkta as a high-efficacy means for cleansing sin and restoring ritual-spiritual fitness.