Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 46
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
होमाद्यैश्चानुतापेन पूयन्ते पापिनो ऽखिलाः
homādyaiścānutāpena pūyante pāpino 'khilāḥ
Par les rites commençant par le homa (offrande au feu) et aussi par un repentir venu du cœur, tous les pécheurs sont purifiés.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Use homa (fire-offering) and sincere anutāpa (repentance) as core means of karma-śuddhi when seeking expiation for wrongdoing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pāpa-śuddhi by Homa and Anutāpa","lookup_keywords":["homa","anutāpa","prāyaścitta","pāpa-śuddhi","karma-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Purification from sin is taught as achievable through ritual means (homa and allied rites) together with inner moral repentance. The verse emphasizes that external rite and internal contrition jointly effect cleansing."}
Concept: Śuddhi arises from both kriyā (ritual action) and bhāva (repentant intention).
Application: Pair corrective action (ritual/ethical restitution) with sincere self-reform; avoid treating expiation as merely mechanical.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Prayashchitta and Karma-shuddhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent householder performs homa before a sacred fire while also showing visible remorse—hands folded, head bowed—symbolizing ritual and inner contrition purifying sin.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a homa-kunda with bright stylized flames, a dvija in white dhoti performing āhuti with ladle, behind him a subdued figure with folded hands showing anutāpa, minimal background with sacred motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa fire with gold-leaf highlights, priest offering ghee, penitent devotee with añjali, ornate arch framing, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry details","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework, instructional depiction of homa setup (kunda, ladle, ghee pot), devotee posture indicating repentance, soft shading and delicate ornamentation","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard yajña scene with detailed utensils, small fire altar, figures in precise garments, expressive bowed head for repentance, fine architectural background and floral border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: होमाद्यैः = होम-आद्यैः; चानुतापेन = च + अनुतापेन; पापिनोऽखिलाः = पापिनः + अखिलाः (विसर्ग-लोपः)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 171 (Prāyaścitta chapter opening); Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on homa and śuddhi
FAQs
It teaches prāyaścitta practice: purification is achieved through homa and related expiatory rites, complemented by anutāpa (inner repentance) as an essential component of effective atonement.
It exemplifies the text’s practical dharma-encyclopedia approach by pairing external ritual technology (homa and prescribed rites) with internal discipline (repentance), integrating ritual science with ethical-psychological purification.
It asserts that karmic defilement is removable: sincere remorse together with corrective ritual action purifies even those burdened by sin, emphasizing both intention and practice in spiritual restoration.