Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 23
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
त्रैवर्णस्य निषिद्धानि पीत्वा तप्त्वाप्यपः शुचिः कणान् वा भक्षयेदब्दं पिण्याकं वा सकृन्निशि
traivarṇasya niṣiddhāni pītvā taptvāpyapaḥ śuciḥ kaṇān vā bhakṣayedabdaṃ piṇyākaṃ vā sakṛnniśi
If a member of the three twice-born social orders drinks what is prohibited, then—having drunk heated water—he becomes purified; alternatively, he should eat only grains for a year, or else take oil-cake once at night.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prescribe expiations for twice-born persons who consumed prohibited drinks: immediate purification by drinking heated water, or longer dietary penances (grain-only for a year, or oil-cake once nightly).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for Prohibited Drinking (Taptodaka, Kāṇa-bhakṣaṇa, Piṇyāka-niśāhāra)","lookup_keywords":["prāyaścitta","surāpāna","taptodaka","kāṇa-bhakṣaṇa","piṇyāka"],"quick_summary":"For prohibited consumption by the three twice-born varṇas, purification is achieved either by drinking heated water or by specified austerities—grain-only for a year or oil-cake once at night—indicating graded penance options."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Transgression is met with proportionate self-restraint and purification to restore social-ritual fitness.
Application: Adopt graded penance: immediate corrective acts plus sustained dietary discipline to rebuild self-control and eligibility for rites.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Expiations and Purificatory Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent twice-born person performs purification: drinking heated water from a ladle, then living austerely with measured grain portions or a small oil-cake at night under a vow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic figure with simple cloth, holding a steaming water vessel, sparse hut background, emphasis on śauca and restraint, muted palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, penitent seated before a small fire-heated pot, gold-highlighted vessel, minimal setting, solemn devotional austerity mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, sequential instructional panels: (1) heating water, (2) drinking taptodaka, (3) grain-only regimen, (4) night oil-cake; fine outlines and captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with brazier and copper pot, penitent receiving hot water, calendar-like depiction of long vow regimen"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"penitential","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तप्त्वाप्यपः = तप्त्वा + अपि + अपः. भक्षयेदब्दम् = भक्षयेत् + अब्दम् (त् + अ → द् + अ by sandhi in recitation/orthography). सकृन्निशि = सकृत् + निशि (त् + न → न्न्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: adjacent prāyaścitta verses on surā and śuddhi (173.24–173.25)
FAQs
It prescribes specific prāyaścitta options for a traivarṇa person who has consumed prohibited drinks: purification via heated water, or regulated subsistence on grains for a year, or a minimal night-only intake of piṇyāka.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana compiles dharma-style procedural guidance—here, concrete expiatory regimens and food rules—showing its coverage of law/ethics, ritual purity, and practical conduct.
The instruction frames purification as karmic rectification: disciplined austerity and regulated diet function as expiation, restoring ritual eligibility and reducing the demerit from consuming forbidden substances.