Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
व्रतं चान्द्रायणं कुर्युस्त्रिरात्रं शूद्र एव तु चण्डालकूपभाण्डेषु अज्ञानात्पिवते जलं
vrataṃ cāndrāyaṇaṃ kuryustrirātraṃ śūdra eva tu caṇḍālakūpabhāṇḍeṣu ajñānātpivate jalaṃ
Wenn ein Śūdra aus Unwissen Wasser aus dem Brunnen eines Caṇḍāla oder aus dessen Gefäßen trinkt, soll er das Gelübde Cāndrāyaṇa auf sich nehmen; ersatzweise ist eine dreinächtige Observanz vorgeschrieben.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for a Śūdra who unknowingly drinks water from a caṇḍāla’s well/vessel: undertake Cāndrāyaṇa or a lighter three-night observance as an alternative.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for Śūdra drinking from Caṇḍāla well/vessel (ajñānataḥ)","lookup_keywords":["śūdra","ajñānataḥ","kūpa","jala","cāndrāyaṇa"],"quick_summary":"If a Śūdra unknowingly drinks water from a caṇḍāla’s well or vessel, expiation is prescribed as Cāndrāyaṇa, with a three-night observance offered as an alternative."}
Concept: Culpability is mitigated by ignorance (ajñāna), hence graded penance; water sources are ritually classified.
Application: Mark and manage water sources in settlements; when accidental breach occurs, follow proportionate observance to restore ritual normalcy.
Khanda Section: Dharma-prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Vows)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village well scene: a Śūdra unknowingly draws water from a caṇḍāla-marked well/vessel; later he undertakes a three-night vow or lunar Cāndrāyaṇa discipline.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, village well with symbolic markers, figure drawing water, then seated in vrata with three night-sky motifs, stylized palms and simple architecture","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, well rendered with gold highlights on the water pot, central penitent with prayer beads, three small moonlit panels above indicating trirātra, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of well vs vessel, labels via visual cues, then vow observance with counted nights, delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling village well, subtle sign of ownership, narrative follow-up of penance in courtyard, fine detail on pots and garments"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: व्रतं चान्द्रायणं = व्रतम् + च + आन्द्रायणम्; कुर्युस्त्रिरात्रं = कुर्युः + त्रिरात्रम्; अज्ञानात्पिवते = अज्ञानात् + पिवते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (water-source impurities; graded vows)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific expiation (prāyaścitta): undertaking the Cāndrāyaṇa vow (or a three-night observance) when a Śūdra unknowingly drinks water associated with a Caṇḍāla’s well or vessels.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana compiles practical Dharmaśāstra material—detailed penances, purity rules, and corrective rites—functioning as a handbook for social-ritual regulation and religious remediation.
The instruction frames accidental contact with ritually prohibited sources as a remediable impurity: performing the prescribed vow is meant to neutralize the resulting pāpa and restore ritual eligibility and inner purity.