Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 11
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
ब्रात्यानां याजनं कृत्वा परेषामन्त्यकर्म च अभिचारमहीनानान्त्रिभिः कृच्छैर् व्यपोहति
brātyānāṃ yājanaṃ kṛtvā pareṣāmantyakarma ca abhicāramahīnānāntribhiḥ kṛcchair vyapohati
Après avoir accompli le yājana (office sacerdotal) pour des brātya (exclus/irréguliers) et avoir célébré pour d’autres l’antya‑karman (rites funéraires), on efface le démérite issu de ces actes impropres en observant trois pénitences Kṛcchra.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guides expiation (prāyaścitta) for ritual/ethical transgressions connected with officiating for irregular persons and performing funerary rites; prescribes a quantified penance (three kṛcchras).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for Brātya-yājana and Antyeṣṭi for Others","lookup_keywords":["brātya-yājana","antya-karman","trikṛcchra","prāyaścitta","aśuddhi"],"quick_summary":"If one has officiated sacrifices for brātyas or performed certain last rites improperly, the demerit is removed by undertaking three Kṛcchra penances."}
Concept: Adharma from improper ritual association is neutralized through structured tapas (kṛcchra) and re-alignment with śrauta-smārta norms.
Application: When a ritual fault is recognized, adopt a defined penance rather than denial; restore social-ritual trust by visible observance.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta (Expiations) and Śānti-karmas (Pacificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija priest, after realizing a ritual fault from officiating for brātyas and performing funerary rites, undertakes three sequential kṛcchra penances—simple austere living, measured meals, and disciplined conduct.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, austere brahmin performing prāyaścitta, simple hut/āśrama setting, palm-leaf manuscripts, water pot, muted earth pigments, calm śānti mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated dvija in penance posture with minimal ornaments, symbolic three kṛcchra steps shown as three small panels, gold leaf halo, temple lamp, devotional austerity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout showing 'trikṛcchra' as three stages with measured food portions, clean linework, soft colors, labels in Devanagari","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest in a courtyard with attendants bringing measured alms-food, manuscript on a low desk, fine detailing, subdued palette emphasizing discipline"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pareṣāmantyakarma → pareṣām + antya-karma; abhicāramahīnānāntribhiḥ → abhicāra-mahīnānām + tribhiḥ; kṛcchair → kṛcchraiḥ (visarga/sandhi); verse implies: by three kṛcchra-penances one removes (sin) from doing yājana for brātyas and others' antya-karmas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (Prāyaścitta-khaṇḍa: kṛcchra, cāndrāyaṇa, śuddhi topics)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta: performing three Kṛcchra penances to expiate the fault incurred by officiating rituals for ritually ineligible persons (brātyas/ahīnas) and by engaging in or being connected with harmful abhicāra-type acts.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a compendium of practical dharma: it codifies ritual eligibility, funerary conduct, and standardized expiations (like Kṛcchra), integrating social-religious law with ritual technology.
The verse frames certain ritual services as generating demerit when done for the unqualified or in harmful contexts, and teaches that disciplined penance (three Kṛcchras) can cleanse that karmic taint and restore ritual purity.