Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
अधःशायी जटाधारी पर्णमूलफलाशनः एककालं समश्नानो द्वादशाब्दे विशुद्ध्यति
adhaḥśāyī jaṭādhārī parṇamūlaphalāśanaḥ ekakālaṃ samaśnāno dvādaśābde viśuddhyati
Sleeping upon the bare ground, bearing matted locks (jaṭā), subsisting on leaves, roots, and fruits, and eating only once a day in measured quantity—by such a discipline one becomes purified in twelve years.
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Designing a long-term tapas regimen for purification: austerity, diet restriction, and disciplined daily routine.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvādaśābda-tapas (Twelve-year purification regimen)","lookup_keywords":["tapas","dvādaśābda","ekakāla-bhojana","pārṇamūlaphalāśana","adhahśayana"],"quick_summary":"A prescribed ascetic regimen—sleeping on the ground, matted hair, leaf-root-fruit diet, and one measured meal daily—culminates in purification over twelve years."}
Concept: Śuddhi through niyama (regulated conduct) and tapas sustained over time.
Application: Adopt graded austerities with clear duration, diet limits, and bodily discipline to cultivate self-mastery and ritual purity.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Tapas–Prāyaścitta (Austerities and expiatory purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An ascetic with matted locks sleeps on bare earth near a simple hermitage, eating a small measured portion of fruits and roots once daily.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, serene forest āśrama, tapasvī with jaṭā, minimal garments, sitting near leaf-plate of fruits/roots, muted earth tones, calm śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ascetic seated in meditation beside a small leaf-plate meal, stylized forest backdrop, subtle gold highlights on sacred implements (kamaṇḍalu), devotional austerity ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of ekakāla-bhojana and adhahśayana: ascetic, ground-bed of kusa/earth, labeled elements (leaf-root-fruit diet), clean lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed woodland hermitage, ascetic with jaṭā and kamaṇḍalu, small measured meal, naturalistic flora, quiet contemplative composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पर्णमूलफलाशनः = पर्ण-मूल-फल-आशनः; एककालं (अव्ययीभाव); द्वादशाब्दे = द्वादश-अब्दे; समश्नानो = समश्नानः (प्रथमा एकवचन)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (Prāyaścitta-vidhi context)
FAQs
It prescribes an ascetic prāyaścitta regimen—ground-sleeping, jaṭā (matted hair), a leaf-root-fruit diet, and ekakāla (one meal daily) with measured intake—as a time-bound means of purification.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical dharma-śāstra material: graded penances, dietary rules, and long-term observances used for ritual and moral purification, showing its wide-ranging instructional scope.
The verse frames sustained self-restraint (tapas) as a purifier of accumulated impurity/sin, stating that consistent observance of this discipline culminates in cleansing over a twelve-year period.