Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 36
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
आब्दिके पादकृच्छ्रं स्यादेकाहः पुनराव्दिके पूर्वेद्युर्वार्षिकं श्राद्धं परेद्युः पुनराव्दिकं
ābdike pādakṛcchraṃ syādekāhaḥ punarāvdike pūrvedyurvārṣikaṃ śrāddhaṃ paredyuḥ punarāvdikaṃ
Pour le śrāddha annuel (ābdika), on prescrit la pénitence dite « demi-kṛcchra » ; pour la répétition annuelle (punar-ābdika), on prescrit une observance/jeûne d’un jour (ekāha). La veille, on accomplira le śrāddha annuel (vārṣika), et le lendemain, de nouveau, le śrāddha (punar-)ābdika.
Lord Agni (in narration to Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Scheduling and observing annual śrāddha with the appropriate preparatory penance/fast and correct day-sequence (previous day vārṣika, next day punar-ābdika).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ābdika–Punarābdika Śrāddha: Kṛcchra and Day-Sequence","lookup_keywords":["ābdika śrāddha","punarābdika","pādakṛcchra","ekāha","vārṣika śrāddha"],"quick_summary":"For ābdika śrāddha, observe pāda-kṛcchra; for punar-ābdika, observe an ekāha observance. Perform vārṣika śrāddha on the preceding day and punar-ābdika on the following day."}
Concept: Ritual correctness (kāla-krama) and self-restraint as means of maintaining śauca and pitṛ-ṛṇa discharge.
Application: Use a calendar-based plan: penance/fast + correct placement of vārṣika and punar-ābdika days to avoid ritual fault (doṣa).
Khanda Section: Shraddha-vidhi (Funerary rites and annual śrāddha regulations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder prepares for annual śrāddha: simple diet/penance, then performs vārṣika śrāddha on the previous day and punar-ābdika on the next day, with piṇḍa and water offerings to pitṛs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, gṛhastha in white dhoti performing śrāddha before a small altar with piṇḍas, darbha grass, water vessel, pitṛs depicted subtly in the background as luminous ancestral figures, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf accents, central seated householder offering piṇḍa and arghya, ornate arch framing, gold highlights on vessels and haloed ancestral presence, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional clarity: two-panel composition showing 'previous day vārṣika' and 'next day punar-ābdika', labeled ritual items (darbha, piṇḍa, pātra), calm domestic setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed household courtyard, Brahmin officiant and patron, careful depiction of ritual implements, marginal notes feel, subdued colors, emphasis on sequence across two adjacent scenes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syāt + eka-āhaḥ → syādekāhaḥ; pūrve + dyuḥ → pūrvedyuḥ; pare + dyuḥ → paredyuḥ; punar + ābdike → punarābdike.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (Śrāddha-vidhi and prāyaścitta context)
FAQs
It prescribes the expiatory observances (pādakṛcchra, ekāha) and the scheduling sequence for vārṣika and (punar-)ābdika śrāddha across the previous and following days.
It records procedural dharma (ritual law): specific timings and prāyaścitta grades for śrāddha, showing the text’s coverage of practical ritual regulation alongside its many other disciplines.
By pairing śrāddha with appropriate prāyaścitta and correct calendrical sequencing, the rite is performed with ritual purity, supporting ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tṛpti) and the performer’s purification and merit.