Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 11
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
हीने हीनतरे चैव त्र्यहश् चतुरहस् तथा पञ्चाहेनाग्निहीनस्तु दशाहाद्ब्राह्मणव्रुवः
hīne hīnatare caiva tryahaś caturahas tathā pañcāhenāgnihīnastu daśāhādbrāhmaṇavruvaḥ
Lorsque la durée (prescrite) est déficiente, ou plus déficiente encore, l’expiation est, respectivement, de trois jours ou de quatre jours. Si l’on demeure sans entretenir le feu sacré pendant cinq jours, alors (l’expiation) est de dix jours — ainsi l’énonce la tradition brāhmaṇa.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Specifying prāyaścitta (expiation) durations for deficiencies in prescribed observances, including lapse in maintaining sacred fires—useful for householders and administrators enforcing ritual norms.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta Durations for Deficient Observance and Agni-lapse","lookup_keywords":["prāyaścitta","hīna","tryaha caturaha pañcāha","agni-hīna","daśāha"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates expiations: for deficient prescriptions, three or four days; for being without sacred fire for five days, ten days of expiation, as per brāhmaṇa tradition."}
Concept: Dharma includes corrective mechanisms; lapses in obligatory rites (especially agni-maintenance) are repaired through time-bound expiation.
Application: If household sacred fire duties are interrupted, apply the stated expiation durations to restore ritual standing before resuming full rites and communal participation.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dharma-shastra (Prāyaścitta / Aśauca-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder’s fire altar shown neglected, then restored; a priest indicates a tablet listing 3-day, 4-day, and 10-day expiations for specific lapses.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-part narrative: dimmed hearth and then rekindled agni-kuṇḍa, priest with palm-leaf listing tryaha/caturaha/daśāha, restrained palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central agni-kuṇḍa with gold flames, side panel showing ‘agni-hīna’ lapse crossed, priest presenting expiation list, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic chart-like painting: columns for lapse type and expiation days, with small vignettes of neglected fire and restored ritual.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic ritual room with detailed objects, learned brāhmaṇa explaining expiation schedule to a householder, marginal numerals 3/4/10."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव → च + एव; पञ्चाहेनाग्निहीनस्तु → पञ्चाहेन + अग्निहीनः + तु; दशाहाद्ब्राह्मणव्रुवः → दशाहात् + ब्राह्मणव्रुवः. ‘त्र्यहः/चतुरहः’ are dvigu compounds with elided ‘अहः’ base.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (aśauca/prāyaścitta context)
FAQs
It specifies graded expiation periods for deficiencies in prescribed observances, including a concrete rule for a lapse in maintaining the sacred fire (agnihīna) and the corresponding penance duration.
Alongside theology and mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical dharma-shastra material—procedural rules on ritual discipline and expiation—showing its coverage of law-like and liturgical regulations.
It frames ritual negligence—especially neglect of the sacred fire—as a karmically consequential lapse that can be purified through time-bound penance, restoring ritual fitness and religious order (dharma).