Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
ब्राह्मणान्नञ्च शूद्रेण नाद्याच्चैव निमन्त्रितः एषामन्यतमस्यान्नममत्या वा त्र्यहं क्षपेत्
brāhmaṇānnañca śūdreṇa nādyāccaiva nimantritaḥ eṣāmanyatamasyānnamamatyā vā tryahaṃ kṣapet
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).
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s dharma instructions to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Food-discipline and commensality rules to maintain ritual purity; specifies a short expiation (three nights) if the boundary is crossed knowingly or negligently.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Commensality restriction and three-night expiation (Brāhmaṇa–Śūdra food)","lookup_keywords":["śūdra-bhojana","brāhmaṇānna","nimantraṇa","trirātra-prāyaścitta","anna-śauca"],"quick_summary":"A Śūdra should not partake of a Brāhmaṇa’s food even when invited; if either party consumes the other’s food, a three-night expiation is prescribed, whether done knowingly or by negligence."}
Concept: Śauca through regulated food-relations; accountability for intentional and negligent transgression.
Application: Maintain clear boundaries in shared meals; if violated, undertake time-bound penance to restore ritual eligibility.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Acharavidhi (Rules of conduct, purity, and expiation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formal meal setting where a Śūdra, though invited, refrains from touching a Brāhmaṇa’s served food; a small inset shows a three-night penance observance (austerity posture, minimal diet).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette; a dharma-ācārya instructing on food purity, a seated brāhmaṇa with leaf-plate, invited śūdra respectfully declining; inset of trirātra vrata with simple mat and water pot; flat decorative ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold work; central figure of a brāhmaṇa householder with ritual vessels, an invited guest scene emphasizing restraint; gold-highlighted utensils and halo-like aureoles; side panel showing three-night expiation with fasting symbolism.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework; instructional tableau of dining protocol, labels for ‘nimantraṇa’ and ‘anna-śauca’; secondary vignette of three-night penance with controlled posture and water pot.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly dining chamber; detailed textiles and trays; the invited guest politely abstains; marginal scene of ascetic penance over three nights with sparse setting and calligraphic caption."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्राह्मणान्नञ्च = ब्राह्मण-अन्नम् + च; नाद्याच्चैव = न + अद्यात् + च + एव; एषामन्यतमस्य = एषाम् + अन्यतमस्य; त्र्यहं = त्रि-अहम् (द्विगु); अन्नममत्या = अन्नम् + अमत्या (no sandhi change).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (śauca/anna-doṣa/prāyaścitta sequence)
FAQs
It gives an acharavidhi rule on prohibited food-sharing (especially a Śūdra eating a Brāhmaṇa’s food, even if invited) and prescribes a three-night/three-day prāyaścitta if the rule is violated knowingly or by negligence.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma regulations—here, detailed social-ritual norms about dining purity and the corresponding expiation—showing its coverage of law-like conduct codes alongside other sciences.
The verse frames improper eating across prescribed boundaries as a purity fault requiring atonement; the three-night expiation is meant to neutralize the karmic/ritual impurity arising from the transgression, whether intentional or inadvertent.