Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
पादं पादन्तु हत्यायाश् चरेयुस्ते पृथक् पृथक् उपकारे क्रियमाणे विपत्तौ नास्ति पातकं
pādaṃ pādantu hatyāyāś careyuste pṛthak pṛthak upakāre kriyamāṇe vipattau nāsti pātakaṃ
Sie sollen jeweils, getrennt voneinander, ein Viertel der für Totschlag vorgeschriebenen Sühne vollziehen. Wird eine Handlung als hilfreiches Eingreifen in einer Notlage getan, entsteht keine Sünde.
Lord Agni (in dialogue to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard frame of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Apportioning legal/ritual liability among multiple agents; principle of no-fault when acting as rescue/help in calamity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Shared expiation and the ‘no-sin in helpful intervention’ principle","lookup_keywords":["prayashchitta apportionment","homicide expiation quarter","upakara","vipatti","no sin"],"quick_summary":"When many are involved in a killing, each undertakes a proportional share of the homicide expiation; but if the act was a helpful intervention during a calamity, it is not counted as sin."}
Concept: Intention and context (help during calamity) modulate moral culpability; proportional responsibility in collective acts.
Application: Judges/elders allocate expiation fairly; rescuers acting in emergencies are protected from moral/legal blame when intent is beneficent.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dharmashastra (Prayashchitta / Expiations and Legal Atonements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A council of elders/judge dividing expiatory duties among several persons; a separate scene of people rescuing during a disaster, emphasizing ‘no sin’ in aid.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dharma-sabhā with seated elders, palm-leaf records, figures assigned ‘one-quarter’ portions symbolically, adjacent vignette of flood/fire rescue, bold flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal court setting with gold detailing, judge indicating proportional shares, attendants holding tablets, second panel showing rescue in calamity, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: left—apportionment of penance; right—emergency aid with caption-like labels, fine lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly adjudication with meticulous textiles, then a disaster-relief vignette (collapsed house/fire), rescuers carrying victims, expressive realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हत्यायाश् = हत्यायाः (विसर्गः शकारे); चरेयुस्ते = चरेयुः ते (ः + त → स्त); नास्ति = न अस्ति (अ + अ → आ)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (prayāścitta gradations and exceptions)
FAQs
It gives a dharma-legal rule for prāyaścitta: when multiple persons share responsibility for a killing, each undertakes one-quarter of the homicide expiation; it also states an exception that helpful action during a calamity does not generate pātaka.
Beyond theology, it preserves Dharmaśāstra-style jurisprudence—allocating expiation proportionally and defining emergency exceptions—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of governance, ethics, and legal-ritual norms.
It frames karma with intention and context: culpability can be apportioned among agents, and compassionate aid in crisis is treated as non-sinful, emphasizing dharma as protective and life-supporting.