Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 38
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
चारयेत्त्रीणि कृच्छ्राणि चान्द्रायणमथापि वा जातकर्मादिसंस्कारैः संस्कुर्यात्तं तथा पुनः
cārayettrīṇi kṛcchrāṇi cāndrāyaṇamathāpi vā jātakarmādisaṃskāraiḥ saṃskuryāttaṃ tathā punaḥ
Il doit accomplir trois pénitences Kṛcchra, ou bien observer le vœu Cāndrāyaṇa; puis, de nouveau, il faut lui conférer selon la règle les saṃskāra (sacrements du cycle de vie) à commencer par le Jātakarman.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prescribes major expiations (three Kṛcchras or Cāndrāyaṇa) and then re-performance of saṃskāras beginning with Jātakarman—used to restore social-ritual status after grave lapse/defect.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Major prāyaścitta: three Kṛcchras or Cāndrāyaṇa, followed by re-saṃskāra","lookup_keywords":["kṛcchra","cāndrāyaṇa","saṃskāra","jātakarman","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"For serious impurity, undertake either three Kṛcchra penances or the Cāndrāyaṇa vow, then ritually re-establish the person through prescribed life-cycle sacraments."}
Concept: Penance (tapas) and re-consecration (saṃskāra) function as a structured ‘reset’—ethical repair plus ritual reintegration.
Application: Use graded austerities for rehabilitation; after correction, formally recommit through rites/pledges that mark a renewed identity and discipline.
Khanda Section: Dharma-prāyaścitta (Ritual Expiations and Saṃskāras)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent performs austerities (Kṛcchra/Cāndrāyaṇa), then a priest conducts Jātakarman and other saṃskāras anew to reinstate him.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-part scene: ascetic penance with controlled diet under moon phases, then a gṛhya rite with priest, fire altar, and infant-symbolic Jātakarman implements; earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, yajña setting with agni, priest and patron, gold-leaf on altar vessels; inset showing moon-cycle Cāndrāyaṇa discipline.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: calendar-like moon phases for Cāndrāyaṇa, alongside a neat depiction of saṃskāra ritual tools (sruva, ājya, kuśa).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed havan scene in a courtyard with attendants, penitent in simple cloth, priest performing rite; moon motif in upper margin indicating Cāndrāyaṇa."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चारयेत्त्रीणि = चारयेत् + त्रीणि; चान्द्रायणमथापि = चान्द्रायणम् + अथ + अपि; जाटकर्मादिसंस्कारैः = जातकर्मादि + संस्कारैः; संस्कुर्यात्तम् = संस्कुर्यात् + तम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (prāyaścitta sequences)
FAQs
It prescribes a concrete expiation sequence—either three Kṛcchra penances or a Cāndrāyaṇa lunar fast—followed by re-performing key saṁskāras starting from Jātakarman to ritually re-qualify the person.
It shows the text functioning as a dharma-manual: alongside mythology and worship, it codifies practical ritual law—penances, purification, and the procedural restoration of life-cycle rites.
The verse frames penance as karmic purification that removes ritual impediments, allowing the person to regain eligibility for saṁskāras and thereby restore religious order (dharma) and merit.