Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
गोमतीञ्च जपेद्विद्यां गोस्तुतिं गोमतीं स्मरेत् एका चेद्बहुभिर्दैवाद् यत्र व्यापादिता भवेत्
gomatīñca japedvidyāṃ gostutiṃ gomatīṃ smaret ekā cedbahubhirdaivād yatra vyāpāditā bhavet
Man soll die Gomatī-vidyā als Japa rezitieren und die Gomatī-stuti, den Lobpreis der Kuh, im Gedächtnis halten (oder singen). Wenn durch das Geschick an einem Ort eine einzelne Kuh von vielen Personen getötet wird, ist diese Rezitation als Sühne vorgeschrieben.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Prayashchitta","practical_application":"Ritual expiation for accidental/collective cow-killing through prescribed japa and stuti remembrance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Gomatī-vidyā japa and Gomatī-stuti for go-vadha expiation","lookup_keywords":["Gomati-vidya","go-stuti","japa","prayashchitta","go-vadha"],"quick_summary":"For expiation connected with the killing of a cow (even when many are involved and fate is cited), perform japa of the Gomatī-vidyā and recite/remember the Gomatī hymn praising the cow."}
Alamkara Type: Stuti-prayoga (praise-poetry; often uses anuprāsa and guṇa-stuti though not specified here)
Concept: Mantra-japa and stuti-smaraṇa as purificatory means; acknowledging moral weight of go-himsā even when accidental/collective.
Application: Use prescribed recitation practices to restore ritual and ethical order after a grave transgression.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Prayashchitta (Ritual Atonement and Mantra-Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A group of remorseful villagers performing japa and singing a hymn before a decorated cow-image or living cow, at the spot of the incident, with offerings and prayer beads.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized devotees in rows with japamālā, sacred cow adorned with garlands, lamp flames, palm-leaf hymn text motif, solemn devotional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central sacred cow with gold ornamentation, devotees chanting with beads, gilded aureole and temple lamps, rich reds and greens, stotra-scroll in hand","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction: japa posture, stuti recitation, small altar, labeled ‘Gomatī-vidyā’ manuscript, calm symmetrical composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed gathering at a village crossroads or courtyard, multiple figures chanting, one reading hymn, decorated cow nearby, nuanced expressions of remorse, fine architectural border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गोमतीञ्च = गोमतीम् च (म् + च → ञ्च); जपेद्विद्याम् = जपेत् विद्याम् (त् + व → द्); चेद्बहुभिः = चेत् बहुभिः (त् + ब → द्ब); बहुभिर्दैवात् = बहुभिः दैवात् (ः + द → र्द्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (go-vadha prayāścitta sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes mantra-prayoga: japa of the “Gomatī-vidyā” and remembrance/recitation of the “Gomatī” cow-hymn as an expiatory rite connected with harm to cattle.
Alongside cosmology and devotion, the Agni Purāṇa also catalogs applied dharma—practical rules for ritual remediation (prāyaścitta), including specific mantras and hymns used to address accidental or collective wrongdoing.
It frames harm to a cow as a serious demerit and teaches that focused mantra-recitation and devotional praise function as purification and karmic mitigation, especially when the act occurs “by fate” and involves multiple agents.