Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
मांसं जग्ध्वा कुञ्जरस्य तप्तकृच्छ्रेण शुद्ध्यति आमश्राद्धे तथा भुक्त्वा ब्रह्मचारी मधु त्वदन्
māṃsaṃ jagdhvā kuñjarasya taptakṛcchreṇa śuddhyati āmaśrāddhe tathā bhuktvā brahmacārī madhu tvadan
Wer Elefantenfleisch gegessen hat, wird durch die Buße namens Taptakṛcchra gereinigt. Ebenso wird ein Brahmacārin, der bei einem Āma-śrāddha gegessen hat, und auch wer Honig gegessen hat, durch die vorgeschriebene Sühne gereinigt.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Specifies expiations for particular dietary/ritual breaches (elephant meat; brahmacārin eating at āma-śrāddha; eating honey) to restore eligibility for conduct and rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Taptakṛcchra and related expiations for specific food/rite violations","lookup_keywords":["taptakṛcchra","kuñjara-māṃsa","āma-śrāddha","brahmacārin","madhu-bhakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Eating elephant meat requires Taptakṛcchra penance; similar expiatory framing applies to a brahmacārin who eats at an improper śrāddha and to honey-eating, restoring ritual purity through austerity."}
Concept: Tapas as corrective mechanism: bodily austerity repairs breaches of brahmacarya and śauca.
Application: When vows are compromised, adopt prescribed austerities (kṛcchra-types) under guidance to re-establish self-control and social-ritual standing.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta-dharma (Atonements and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An ascetic performing Taptakṛcchra: heat/austerity symbolism (sun, warm water, controlled intake), with a brahmacārin shown refusing improper śrāddha food; honey depicted as a tempting item set aside.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, tapasvī under a radiant sun, warm-water vessel, sparse meal bowl; side vignette of brahmacārin near śrāddha setting turning away; earthy tones and strong outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold sun-disc and austere figure with minimal possessions, ornate border; small inset of śrāddha scene and honey pot crossed out, devotional-austerity mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional: three panels—elephant-meat offence, āma-śrāddha eating, honey eating—leading to Taptakṛcchra/penance panel; clean labels and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed hermitage courtyard with ascetic regimen, attendants noting rules; inset banquet/śrāddha scene with the student’s restraint; fine utensil detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्वदन् = √ad शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle) used predicatively with ब्रह्मचारी; तप्तकृच्छ्रेण is karmadhāraya compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (kṛcchra and food-related prāyaścitta)
FAQs
It prescribes prāyaścitta (expiation) for specific ritual/dietary transgressions—especially the use of Taptakṛcchra to restore purity after eating prohibited foods or eating in an improper śrāddha context.
It illustrates the text’s dharma-śāstra layer: cataloging offenses (dietary/ritual impurity) alongside standardized expiations, integrating ritual law into the Agni Purana’s broad compendium of disciplines.
The verse frames certain foods and contexts as generating impurity (doṣa) and teaches that disciplined austerity-based expiation can neutralize karmic fault and reinstate eligibility for Vedic and ritual observances.