Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 30
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
बहिःस्नानरतो मासान्मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया मधुवातेति मन्त्रेण होमादितो ऽखिलं लभेत्
bahiḥsnānarato māsānmucyate brahmahatyayā madhuvāteti mantreṇa homādito 'khilaṃ labhet
যে এক মাস বহিঃস্নানে নিবিষ্ট থাকে, সে ব্রাহ্মণহত্যার পাপ থেকে মুক্ত হয়। আর “মধুবাত…” মন্ত্রে হোমাদি কর্ম করলে সমস্ত শুদ্ধিফল সম্পূর্ণরূপে লাভ হয়।
Lord Agni (narrating purificatory disciplines to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta for mahāpātaka (brahmahatyā) through regulated bathing and Vedic-homa with a specified mantra to restore ritual purity and social-religious eligibility.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Brahmahatyā-prāyaścitta: Bahiḥsnāna and Madhu-vātā Homa","lookup_keywords":["brahmahatyā","bahiḥsnāna","prāyaścitta","madhu-vātā","homa"],"quick_summary":"A month of prescribed ‘outside bathing’ is taught as an expiation for brahmin-slaying; additionally, homa with the ‘madhu-vātā…’ mantra is stated to yield complete purificatory fruition."}
Concept: Pāpa-kṣaya through niyama (regulated conduct) and mantra-homa; ritual action as a means to restore dhārmic order.
Application: Undertake time-bound purification vows and Vedic recitation with homa under a qualified officiant to remove ritual impediments and regain eligibility for rites.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Expiations and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent performing daily outdoor bathing for a month, then conducting a homa before a sacred fire while reciting the ‘madhu-vātā…’ mantra; vessels, ladle, and offerings arranged in a clean ritual space.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, a serene ascetic near a riverbank bathing at dawn, then seated before a homa-kuṇḍa with bright sacred fire, traditional ornaments minimal, palm-leaf textures, warm earthy palette, Vedic priest assisting, ‘madhu-vātā’ recitation implied by gesture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa scene with thick gold foil highlights on the fire altar and vessels, penitent and priest in frontal composition, decorative arch motif, luminous aura around the fire, inscription-like mantra band ‘madhu-vātā’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual layout: homa-kuṇḍa, āhuti-ladle, ghee pot, water vessel; penitent shown bathing outside in a side vignette; fine linework, soft shading, clear didactic labeling feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed outdoor courtyard near a water body, penitent bathing, then a compact fire-ritual with attendants, delicate textiles, precise vessels, subtle smoke curls, calligraphic cartouche for ‘madhu-vātā’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बहिःस्नानरतो = बहिः + स्नान + रतः; मासान्मुच्यते = मासान् + मुच्यते; मधुवातेति = मधुवाता + इति; होमादितोऽखिलं = होमादितः + अखिलम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 259 (Prāyaścitta-śuddhi and mantra-prayoga sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a concrete expiation: a month-long vow of regular outdoor bathing, and a homa (fire-offering) performed using the “madhu-vāta…” Vedic mantra as a mantra-prayoga for purification.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s manual-like coverage of applied Dharma—cataloging specific prāyaścittas, vows, and mantra-based ritual procedures alongside its many other domains (temple rites, polity, medicine, poetics, etc.).
It frames severe karmic demerit (brahmahatyā) as remediable through disciplined bodily purification (snāna-vrata) and Vedic mantra-powered ritual action (homa), emphasizing atonement, restoration of purity, and reintegration into dharmic life.