Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 43
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानां ताम्रस्य रजतस्य च अयस्कांस्योपलानाञ्च द्वादशाहं कणान्नभुक्
maṇimuktāpravālānāṃ tāmrasya rajatasya ca ayaskāṃsyopalānāñca dvādaśāhaṃ kaṇānnabhuk
For expiation concerning gems, pearls, corals, copper, silver, iron, bell-metal, and stones, one should for twelve days subsist on kaṇānna—a simple diet of grains.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Determining a short-term dietary expiation for theft/defilement involving valuables and metals; implementing a 12-day regulated diet.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvādaśāha-kaṇānna prāyaścitta for gems and metals","lookup_keywords":["maṇi","muktā","pravāla","tāmra-rajata","kaṇānna"],"quick_summary":"For offenses involving gems, pearls, coral, and various metals/stones, a twelve-day expiation is prescribed: subsistence on kaṇānna (simple grain fare)."}
Concept: Measured penance calibrated to the category of property/valuable involved.
Application: Apply time-bound dietary vows (12 days) as corrective practice for specific material transgressions.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Vrata-vidhi (Expiations and Vowed Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder-penitent counts twelve days, eating only a small bowl of plain grains, while valuables (gems/metals) are shown as the cause of expiation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior-āśrama setting, penitent with simple grain meal in leaf-bowl, symbolic display of maṇi/muktā/pravāla, calm restrained palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, penitent before a small altar, plain grain offering bowl, gold-work highlighting pearls/coral as symbolic motifs, devotional austerity tone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional panel: twelve-day calendar motif, kaṇānna bowl, labeled items (tāmra, rajata, ayas), neat didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic scene with meticulous objects—pearls, coral, copper/silver vessels—while the penitent eats plain grains, fine textile and utensil detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानां = मणि-मुक्ता-प्रवालानाम्; अयस्कांस्योपलानाञ्च = अयस्-कांस्य-उपलानाम् च; द्वादशाहं = द्वादश-अहम् (अव्ययीभाव); कणान्नभुक् = कण-अन्न-भुक्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (graded expiations by object stolen/defiled)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta: a twelve-day regulated diet (kaṇānna-bhuk) as expiation connected with valuables such as gems, pearls, corals, and metals like copper, silver, iron, and bell-metal.
It exemplifies the Purana’s dharma-śāstra-like coverage by cataloging practical expiations for different classes of objects (precious items, metals, stones) and pairing them with standardized vow-diets and time-periods.
The twelve-day austerity functions as ritual purification, intended to reduce the karmic burden of wrongdoing involving valuable materials by disciplined restraint and prescribed observance.