Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
शरणागतं परित्यज्य वेदं विप्लाव्य च द्विजः संवत्सं यताहारस्तत्पापमपसेधति
śaraṇāgataṃ parityajya vedaṃ viplāvya ca dvijaḥ saṃvatsaṃ yatāhārastatpāpamapasedhati
Ein Dvija (Zweimalgeborener), der (i) einen Schutzsuchenden verlässt und (ii) die Veda verletzt oder entweiht, tilgt diese Sünde, indem er ein Jahr lang mit geregelter, eingeschränkter Nahrung (yatāhāra) lebt.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha, within the prāyaścitta section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prescribes a one-year regulated-diet observance as expiation for grave ethical and scriptural offenses (abandoning a refugee; desecrating/violating the Veda).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saṃvatsara-yatāhāra Prāyaścitta for Refuge-Abandonment and Veda-Viplava","lookup_keywords":["śaraṇāgata-tyāga","veda-viplava","saṃvatsara-vrata","yatāhāra","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"For abandoning one who sought refuge and for violating the sanctity of the Veda, a dvija removes sin by living for a year on restricted, regulated food."}
Concept: Śaraṇāgati-protection and Veda-satkara are foundational; their breach demands prolonged self-restraint to re-train character and restore dharmic alignment.
Application: Treat refuge-seekers as inviolable responsibility; handle sacred texts/teaching with strict reverence; if violated, adopt sustained corrective discipline.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta (Expiation) and Śuddhi-vidhi
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A twice-born man, repentant, follows a year-long vow of regulated food, shown through seasonal cycle imagery and daily measured meals, with the Veda kept respectfully on a stand and a refugee figure in the background as moral reminder.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four seasonal panels around central penitent dvija, Veda on wooden stand, refugee at doorway, earthy pigments, solemn dharma mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure with gold halo of resolve, symbolic calendar wheel for one year, small depiction of Veda on pedestal, rich gold work yet austere posture","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene: measured bowl, list-like visual of 'yatāhāra', clean interior āśrama, soft shading, emphasis on discipline","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined domestic courtyard, scholar on simple mat, attendant offering small portion, manuscript wrapped in cloth, delicate border showing months"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śaraṇāgataṃ → śaraṇa-āgatam; yatāhāras → yata-āhāraḥ; tatpāpam → tat-pāpam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (śuddhi-vidhi and long-duration prāyaścittas)
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta: a one-year observance of yatāhāra (regulated, restrained diet) as an expiation for two grave breaches—abandoning a person seeking refuge and desecrating/violating the Veda.
Alongside rituals, cosmology, polity, and arts, the Agni Purana also systematizes dharma-śāstric material—cataloging specific sins and matching them with practical expiations—making it a compendium of applied religious law and ethical discipline.
The verse frames refuge-betrayal and Veda-violation as heavy karmic faults, and teaches that disciplined self-restraint (especially through food regulation over time) functions as purification, reducing the karmic burden and restoring dharmic standing.