Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 6
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
देशं कालञ्च यः शक्तिं पापञ्चावेक्ष्य यत्नतः प्रायश्चित्तं प्रकल्प्यं स्याद्यत्र चोक्ता ब निष्कृतिः
deśaṃ kālañca yaḥ śaktiṃ pāpañcāvekṣya yatnataḥ prāyaścittaṃ prakalpyaṃ syādyatra coktā ba niṣkṛtiḥ
Après avoir examiné avec soin le lieu, le temps, sa propre capacité et la nature de la faute, on doit prescrire une expiation (prāyaścitta) — précisément la forme d’atonement que l’enseignement énonce comme la délivrance correcte de la souillure.
Lord Agni (teaching the principles of dharma and expiation)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Context-sensitive selection of prāyaścitta by weighing deśa (locale), kāla (season/occasion), adhikāra/śakti (capacity), and pāpa-bheda (type/weight of offense) before prescribing penance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta-nirṇaya by Deśa–Kāla–Śakti–Pāpa","lookup_keywords":["prāyaścitta","deśa kāla","śakti (capacity)","pāpa-vicāra","niṣkṛti"],"quick_summary":"Expiation is not one-size-fits-all: it must be determined after assessing place, time, the doer’s capacity, and the specific sin, then choosing the stated niṣkṛti appropriate to that case."}
Concept: Yukti-yukta dharma: right action requires contextual discernment (deśa–kāla–pātra/śakti) rather than mechanical rule-following.
Application: Before undertaking vows/penances, consult competent authority and calibrate observance to health, resources, and circumstance to avoid adharmic excess or laxity.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiation and Atonement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dharma-ācārya or sabhā of elders weighing scrolls and ritual implements, pointing to a calendar and map-like markers of place, while a penitent stands awaiting the prescribed prāyaścitta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, a seated rishi-judge with palm-leaf manuscripts, a penitent with folded hands, symbolic sun-moon for kāla and landscape motifs for deśa, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central guru-ācārya on a throne with gold-leaf halo, penitent below, ornate borders, ritual vessels and manuscript emphasized with embossed gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional tableau: guru indicating deśa-kāla-śakti-pāpa on a written chart, subdued palette, delicate shading, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly legal-religious consultation scene, scholars with books, penitent in simple dress, detailed textiles, marginal notes-like feel, architectural interior with calendar instruments"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kālañca = kālam + ca; pāpañcāvekṣya = pāpam + ca + āvekṣya; syādyatra = syāt + yatra; coktā = ca + uktā; ‘ba’ in source treated as vā (variant reading).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (Prāyaścitta section, surrounding verses on brahmahatyā and graded penances)
FAQs
It teaches the rule of proportional expiation: prāyaścitta must be prescribed only after assessing deśa (place), kāla (time/circumstance), śakti (capacity), and the specific pāpa (offence), using the stated niṣkṛti as the appropriate remedy.
Beyond mythic narration, it functions like a practical dharma manual—codifying how to select penances contextually, aligning ritual law with real-world variables (region, time, and personal capacity).
It emphasizes that purification is effective when the remedy matches the fault and the practitioner’s circumstances, aiming at genuine removal of karmic taint (niṣkṛti) rather than rigid, one-size-fits-all penance.