Adhyaya 168

Verse 1

इत्य् आग्नेये महपुराणे ऽयुतलक्षकोटिहोमा नाम सप्तषष्ट्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथाष्टषष्ट्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः महापातकादिकथनम् पुष्कर उवाच दण्डं कुर्यान्नृपो नॄणां प्रायश्चित्तमकुर्वतां कामतो ऽकामतो वापि प्रायश्चित्तं कृतं चरेत्

Thus, in the Agni Mahāpurāṇa, the one-hundred-and-sixty-seventh chapter, called “Ayuta-lakṣa-koṭi-homa,” concludes. Now begins the one-hundred-and-sixty-eighth chapter, “The exposition of great sins and related topics.” Puṣkara said: “A king should impose punishment on those people who do not perform expiation (prāyaścitta). Whether a sin is committed intentionally or unintentionally, one should undertake the prescribed expiatory rite and carry it out.”

Verse 2

जातवेदोमुखैः सौरैर् इति ख रिपुं हरेदिति ङ , ञ च मत्तक्रुद्धातुराणां च न भुञ्जीत कदाचन महापातकिनां स्पृष्टं यच्च स्पृष्टमुदक्यया

“jātavedomukhaiḥ sauraiḥ”—this is the letter-group kha; and “ripuṃ haret”—these are the letter-groups ṅa and ña. One should never partake of food associated with those who are intoxicated, enraged, or afflicted by illness; nor should one eat what has been touched by great sinners (mahāpātakin), or what has been touched by a menstruating woman (udakyā).

Verse 3

गणान्नं गणिकान्नं च वार्धुषेर्गायनस्य च अभिशप्तस्य षण्डस्य यस्याश्चोपपतिर्गृहे

One should avoid the food of a gaṇa (debased company), the food of a courtesan, and also the food of a usurer and of a professional singer; likewise, (avoid the food) of one who is cursed, of a eunuch, and of a woman in whose house a paramour resides.

Verse 4

रजकस्य नृशंसस्य वन्दिनः कितवस्य च मिथ्यातपस्विनश् चैव चौरदण्डिकयोस् तथा

Likewise, the same rule applies to the food of a washerman, a cruel man, a panegyrist, a gambler, and also a false ascetic, as well as to that of a thief and an executioner (one who lives by punishment).

Verse 5

कुण्डगोलस्त्रीजितानां वेदविक्रयिणस् तथा शैलूषतन्त्रवायान्नं कृतघ्नस्यान्नमेव च

Food received from a kuṇḍa or gola (one of illicit birth), from a man ruled by a woman, and from a seller of the Veda; likewise the food of an actor, of a tantravāya (practitioner of heterodox/occult rites), and indeed the food of an ungrateful person—all these are to be avoided.

Verse 6

कर्मारस्य निषादस्य चेलनिर्णेजकस्य च मिथ्याप्रव्रजितस्यान्नम्पुंश् चल्यास्तैलिकस्य च

One should also avoid the food of a blacksmith, a Niṣāda (hunter/forest-dweller), a cloth-washer, a false renunciant, a food-seller or hired cook, a eunuch, a deceitful woman, and an oilman as well.

Verse 7

आरूढपतितस्यान्नं विद्विष्टान्नं च वर्जयेत् तथैव ब्राह्मणस्यान्नं ब्राह्मणेनानिमन्त्रितः

One should avoid the food of a fallen person (patita), and also food offered with malice (by one who is hostile). Likewise, a Brahmin should avoid the food of another Brahmin if he has not been invited.

Verse 8

ब्राह्मणान्नञ्च शूद्रेण नाद्याच्चैव निमन्त्रितः एषामन्यतमस्यान्नममत्या वा त्र्यहं क्षपेत्

A Śūdra, even when duly invited, should not eat a Brāhmaṇa’s food. If he eats the food of either of these—knowingly or through negligence—he should perform expiation for three nights (three days).

Verse 9

मत्या भुक्त्वा चरेत् कृच्छ्रं रेतोविण्मूत्रमेव च चण्डालश्वपचान्नन्तु भुक्त्वा चान्द्रायणं चरेत्

Having eaten fish, one should undertake the Kṛcchra penance; likewise for ingesting semen, feces, and urine. But having eaten the food of a Caṇḍāla or a Śvapaca, one should undertake the Cāndrāyaṇa penance.

Verse 10

अनिर्दिशं च प्रेतान्नं गवाघ्रातं तथैव च शूद्रोच्छिष्टं शुनोच्छिष्टं पतितान्नं तथैव च

Food whose source cannot be properly specified, food connected with the dead (funerary offerings), food smelt by a cow, the leavings of a Śūdra, the leavings of a dog, and food belonging to or given by a fallen (outcaste) person—these too are to be avoided as impure.

Verse 11

तप्तकृच्छ्रं प्रकुर्वीत अशौचे कृच्छ्रमाचरेत् अशौचे यस्य यो भुङ्क्ते सोप्यशुद्धस् तथा भवेत्

In a state of aśauca (ritual impurity), one should perform the ‘heated’ kṛcchra (taptakṛcchra); and in ordinary aśauca one should observe the kṛcchra discipline. Moreover, whoever eats the food of a person in aśauca becomes impure as well.

Verse 12

मृतपञ्चनखात् कूपादमेध्येन सकृद्युतात् गणानां गणिकानाञ्चेति ङ , ञ च चौरदाम्भिकयोस्तथेति ञ अपः पीत्वा त्र्यहं तिष्ठेत् सोपवासो द्विजोत्तमः

If a well has been tainted even once by an impure source—such as the carcass of a five-nailed animal, or through association with impure persons like bands of outcastes and courtesans, or with thieves and the deceitful—then the best of the twice-born, having drunk water as a purificatory act, should remain for three days, fasting.

Verse 13

सर्वत्र शूद्रे पादः स्याद् द्वित्रयं वैश्यभूपयोः विड्वराहखरोष्ट्राणां गोमायोः कपिकाकयोः

In all such cases, for a Śūdra the penalty is one quarter of the standard measure; for a Vaiśya and for the king (Kṣatriya) it is two parts and three parts respectively. These rules apply to matters involving the excrement of a pig, a donkey, and a camel, as well as cow-urine, and the filth of a monkey and a crow.

Verse 14

प्राश्य मूत्रपुरीषाणि द्विजश्चान्द्रायणं चरेत् शुष्काणि जग्ध्वा मांसानि प्रेतान्नं करकाणि च

If a twice-born man (dvija) has drunk urine or feces, or has eaten dried meat, the food offered for the pretas (the dead), or karaka-type scraps and offal, he should perform the Cāndrāyaṇa expiatory vow.

Verse 15

क्रव्यादशूकरोष्ट्राणां गोमायोः कपिकाकयोः गोनराश्वखरोष्ट्राणां छत्राकं ग्रामकुक्कुटं

One should avoid as food the flesh of carnivorous animals, of the boar and the camel; likewise the flesh of the cow and the dog, of the monkey and the crow; also that of the wild cow (gavaya), the horse, the donkey, and the camel; as well as mushrooms and the village (domestic) cock.

Verse 16

मांसं जग्ध्वा कुञ्जरस्य तप्तकृच्छ्रेण शुद्ध्यति आमश्राद्धे तथा भुक्त्वा ब्रह्मचारी मधु त्वदन्

Having eaten elephant-meat, one becomes purified by performing the penance called Taptakṛcchra. Likewise, a brahmacārin who has eaten food at an Āma-śrāddha, and one who has eaten honey, becomes purified by the prescribed expiation.

Verse 17

लशुनं गुञ्जनं चाद्यात् प्राजापत्यादिना शुचिः भुक्त्वा चान्द्रायणं कुर्यान् मांसञ्चात्मकृतन्तथा

If one eats garlic or guñjana, one becomes purified by performing the Prājāpatya penance and the like. Having eaten meat, one should undertake the Cāndrāyaṇa vow; likewise, this applies to meat prepared by oneself.

Verse 18

पेलुगव्यञ्च पेयूषं तथा श्लेष्मातकं मृदं वृथाकृशरसंयावपायसापूपशष्कुलीः

Also to be included are: pelugavya; peyūṣa (colostrum/first milk); likewise the product of the śleṣmātaka; clay/earth (mṛd); and further—kṛśara, rasa, saṃyāva, pāyasa, āpūpa, and śaṣkulī (various cooked foods and sweets).

Verse 19

अनुपाकृटमांसानि देवान्नानि हवींषि च गवाञ्च महिषीणां च वर्जयित्वा तथाप्यजां

One should avoid meat that has not been properly prepared, foods intended for the gods, and sacrificial oblations (havī); and one should abstain from the flesh of cows and buffaloes—yet, in certain contexts, the goat is permitted.

Verse 20

सर्वक्षीराणि वर्ज्याणि तासाञ्चैवाप्यन्निर्दशं शशकः शल्यकी गोधा खड्गः कूर्मस्तथैव च

All kinds of milk are to be avoided; and among them, those milks whose kind is not expressly designated are also to be avoided—such as (the milk) of the hare, porcupine, iguana, rhinoceros, and likewise the tortoise.

Verse 21

भक्ष्याः पञ्चनखाः प्रोक्ताः परिशेषाश् च वर्जिताः पाठीनरोहितान्मत्स्यान् सिंहतुण्डांश् च भक्षयेत्

Among five-clawed animals, only those specifically declared edible are permitted; the rest are to be avoided. One may eat the fish known as pāṭhīna and rohita, and also the fish called siṃhatuṇḍa (“lion-snouted”).

Verse 22

यवगोधूमजं सर्वं पयसश् चैव विक्रियाः वागषाड्गवचक्रादीन् सस्नेहमुषितं तथा

All preparations made from barley (yava) and wheat (godhūma), as well as milk and its various products—such as vārgaṣāḍ, gava, and cakra and similar items—when stored with fat (ghee/oil) and left to stand (matured/aged), are to be regarded according to the appropriate dietetic classification.

Verse 23

द्वितीयं वैश्यशूद्रयोरेति क , ख , ङ , ञ च शुष्काणि दग्धमंसानि इति ङ प्राजापत्याद्द्विजः शुचिरिति ख अग्निहोत्रपरीद्धाग्निर्ब्राह्मणः कामचारतः चान्द्रायणं चरेन्मासं वीरवध्वासनं हितं

For the Vaiśya and the Śūdra, the second (i.e., lower) grade of expiation is prescribed—so read the variant recensions (ka, kha, ṅa, ña). In the ṅa-reading it is stated: “(one should take) dried or fire-roasted meats.” In the kha-reading: “By performing the Prājāpatya penance a twice-born becomes purified.” A Brāhmaṇa who, through lustful and undisciplined conduct, has kept the sacred Agnihotra fires kindled should undertake the Cāndrāyaṇa vow for a month; this is declared beneficial as an expiation (also transmitted under the wording “vīra-vadhv-āsana”).

Verse 24

ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वङ्गनागमः महान्ति पातकान्याहुः संयोगश् चैव तैः सह

They declare these to be the great sins: killing a Brāhmaṇa (brahmahatyā), drinking intoxicating liquor (surāpāna), theft (steya), and sexual intercourse with one’s guru’s wife; and also association or complicity with those (sins or sinners) as well.

Verse 25

अनृते च समुत्कर्षो राजगामि च पैशुनं गुरोश्चालीकनिर्बन्धः समानं ब्रह्महत्यया

Boastful self-exaltation rooted in falsehood, tale-bearing that reaches the king (slander before royal authority), malicious backbiting, and persistently fastening a false charge upon one’s guru—these are said to be equal to the sin of brahmin-slaying (brahmahatyā).

Verse 26

ब्रह्मोज्झ्यवेदनिन्दा च कौटसाक्ष्यं सुहृद्बधः गर्हितान्नाज्ययोर्जग्धिः सुरापानसमानि षट्

Neglecting Brahmanical duties, reviling the Veda, giving false testimony, killing a friend, eating censured or impure food, and improper consumption of ghee—these six are declared to be on a par with the sin of drinking liquor (surāpāna).

Verse 27

निक्षेपस्यापहरणं नराश्वरजतस्य च भूमिवज्रमणीनाञ्च रुक्मस्तेयसमं स्मृतं

The taking away of an entrusted deposit (nikṣepa), and the theft of a human being, a horse, or silver, as well as of land, diamonds, and gems—these are declared to be equivalent to the theft of gold.

Verse 28

रेतःसेकः स्वयोन्याषु कुमारीष्वन्त्यजासु च सख्युः पुत्रस्य च स्त्रीषु गुरुतल्पसमं विदुः

The authorities declare that the emission of semen (i.e., sexual intercourse) with women of one’s own lineage, with virgins, with outcaste women, and with the wife of a friend or of one’s son, is known to be equal to the offence of violating the guru’s bed (gurutalpa).

Verse 29

गोबधो ऽयाज्य संयाज्यं पारदार्यात्मविक्रियः गुरुमातृपितृत्यागः स्वाध्ययाग्न्योः सुतस्य च

Censured acts are: the killing of a cow; officiating at or participating in sacrifices for one unfit to receive them; adultery (approaching another man’s wife); selling oneself (self-enslavement); abandoning one’s teacher, mother, or father; and neglecting one’s Vedic study, one’s sacred fires, and one’s son.

Verse 30

परिवित्तितानुजेन परिवेदनमेव च तयोर्दानञ्च कन्यायास्तयोरेव च याजनं

For the younger brother who marries while the elder brother remains unmarried (i.e., one who has ‘passed over’ the elder), the formal declaration/appeasement called parivedana is prescribed; and the giving away of the maiden in marriage belongs to those two alone, and likewise the officiation of the rite (yājana) pertains to those two alone.

Verse 31

कन्याया दूषणञ्चैव वार्धुष्यं व्रतलोपनं तडागारामदाराणामपत्यस्य च विक्रियः

Also counted among sinful acts are: dishonouring a maiden; usury; breaking vows; and selling tanks (water-reservoirs), pleasure-groves, one’s wife, and one’s offspring.

Verse 32

व्रात्यता बान्धवत्यागो भृताध्यापनमेव च भृताच्चाध्ययनादानमविक्रेयस्य विक्रयः

Becoming a vrātya (one fallen from prescribed Vedic discipline), abandoning one’s relatives, teaching for wages, accepting payment for studying/reciting the Veda, and selling what ought not to be sold—these are condemned as adharma.

Verse 33

समानि ब्रह्महत्ययेति ख , ङ , ञ च गर्हितानामन्नजग्धिरिति ङ सख्युः सुतस्य चेति ङ सर्वाकारेष्वधीकारो महायन्त्रप्रवर्तनं हिंसौषधीनां स्त्र्याजीवः क्रियालङ्गनमेव च

“(There are acts) equivalent to brahma-slaughter (brahmahatyā),” so state the kha-, ṅa-, and ña-readings. “Eating the food (left) of the censured,” so reads the ṅa-version; and “(having intercourse with) the wife of a friend’s son,” so reads the ṅa-version. Also censured are: assuming authority in every sphere without qualification, setting in motion great machines/engines, the use of violent or poisonous medicinal substances, living by (the earnings of) women, and transgressing prescribed rites (kriyā).

Verse 34

इन्धनार्थमशुष्काणां दुमाणाञ्चैव पातनं योषितां ग्रहणञ्चैव स्त्रीनिन्दकसमागमः

Felling unseasoned (green) trees merely for firewood, abducting women, and associating with those who disparage women—these are censurable acts.

Verse 35

आत्मार्थञ्च क्रियारम्भो निन्दितान्नदनन्तथा अनाहिताग्नितास्तेयमृणानाञ्चानपक्रिया

Initiating rites merely for one’s own gain, giving (in charity) food that is censured, the state of being without the established sacred fires (anāhitāgni), theft, and the failure to discharge one’s debts—these are enumerated as blameworthy lapses.

Verse 36

असच्छास्त्राधिगमनं दौःशील्यं व्यसनक्रिया धान्यकुप्यपशुस्तेयं मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणं

Studying false or deceitful treatises (asat-śāstra), vicious conduct, the pursuit of addictive vices, theft of grain, valuables, or cattle, drinking intoxicants, and consorting with another man’s wife—these are counted among ruinous misdeeds.

Verse 37

स्त्रीशूद्रविट्क्षत्रबधो नास्तिक्यञ्चोपपातकं ब्राह्मणस्य रुजः कृत्यं घ्रातिरघ्रेयमद्ययोः

For a Brāhmaṇa, the killing of a woman, a Śūdra, a Vaiśya, or a Kṣatriya, as well as unbelief (nāstikya), is classed as an upapātaka (a secondary sin). Also so are: causing injury or pain (rujā), the practice of sorcery/black rites (kṛtyā), and the smelling of what should not be smelled, including the odor of intoxicating liquor.

Verse 38

जैंभं पुंसि च मैथुन्यं जातिभ्रंशकरं स्मृतं श्वखरोष्ट्रमृगेन्द्राणामजाव्योश् चैव मारणं

Sexual intercourse with a male, and with a non-human being (jaiṃbha), is remembered as causing the loss of caste-status; likewise, the killing of a dog, a donkey, a camel, a lion, and also goats and sheep is condemned.

Verse 39

सङ्कीर्णकरणं ज्ञेयं मीनाहिनकुलस्य च निन्दितेभ्यो धनादानं बाणिज्यं शूद्रसेवनं

One should understand that the occupations of those of mixed origin (saṅkīrṇa) include: fishing and trades involving the killing/handling of fish and the ichneumon (mongoose); giving money (as loans or gifts) to censured persons; commerce; and service under Śūdras.

Verse 40

अपात्रीकरणं ज्ञेयमसत्यस्य च भाषणं कृमिकीटवयोहत्या मद्यानुगतभोजनं

One should understand as acts of demerit: rendering a worthy person unfit (to receive gifts/rites), speaking falsehood, killing worms and insects (as well as) birds, and eating food connected with intoxicating liquor.

Verse 41

फलैधःकुसुमस्तेयमधैर् यञ्च मलावहं

The theft of fruits, firewood, and flowers—along with whatever is taken by the dishonest—brings defilement (impurity).