Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 25
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
द्विजः शान्तपनं कुर्याच्छूद्रश्चोपवसेद्दिनं चण्डालेन तु संस्पृष्टो यस्त्वपः पिवते द्विजः
dvijaḥ śāntapanaṃ kuryācchūdraścopavaseddinaṃ caṇḍālena tu saṃspṛṣṭo yastvapaḥ pivate dvijaḥ
A twice-born man should perform the Śāntapana expiation, and a Śūdra should fast for one day. But a twice-born who, after being touched by a caṇḍāla, drinks water, is enjoined to undertake the prescribed expiation.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Specifies expiation by social role and act: dvija performs Śāntapana; Śūdra fasts one day; dvija drinking water after caṇḍāla-touch triggers the stated expiation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śāntapana for dvija; one-day fast for Śūdra after caṇḍāla-contact and water intake","lookup_keywords":["śāntapana","upavāsa","dvija","śūdra","ap-pāna"],"quick_summary":"A twice-born should perform Śāntapana expiation, while a Śūdra fasts for one day; a dvija who drinks water after being touched by a caṇḍāla is enjoined to the prescribed expiation."}
Concept: Dharma texts grade expiation by varṇa/adhikāra and by the medium of impurity (touch + water intake).
Application: Apply role-appropriate remedial observances; emphasize prevention (avoid contact and immediate consumption) and timely expiation to restore ritual eligibility.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Shaucha-Prayashchitta (Purification and Expiations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija is touched by a caṇḍāla and then drinks water; the scene transitions to Śāntapana observance; alongside, a Śūdra performs a one-day fast.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel composition: contact and water-drinking on left; on right, dvija in śāntapana with ritual bowl and water pot, Śūdra seated in simple fasting posture, earthy pigments","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-ornamented ritual vessels for Śāntapana, central dvija with sacred thread, side figure Śūdra in plain attire fasting, decorative arch and gold detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic split-scene with captions implied by symbols: ‘touch + water’ leading to ‘Śāntapana’; separate ‘one-day fast’, clean lines and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative realism: brief contact in street, then indoor penance with attendants, careful rendering of cups and water pot, subdued moral tone"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्याच्छूद्रश्चोपवसेद्दिनं = कुर्यात् + शूद्रः + च + उपवसेत् + दिनम्; यस्त्वपः = यः + तु + अपः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (Śāntapana and fasting penances)
FAQs
It prescribes specific expiations for impurity: Śāntapana-prāyaścitta for a dvija and a one-day fast for a Śūdra, with special attention to impurity arising from contact with a Caṇḍāla and subsequent drinking of water.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogs practical dharma-shastra material—graded rules of purity, social-ritual conduct, and expiations—showing its compendium-like coverage of religious law and daily-life regulation.
The verse frames impurity as a ritual-ethical fault remediable through penance; performing the stated expiation is presented as restoring ritual fitness and reducing the karmic burden associated with transgressive contact and consumption.