Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 28
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
अमत्यैव प्रमाप्य स्त्रीं शूद्रहत्याव्रतं चरेत् सर्पादीनां बधे नक्तमनस्थ्नां वायुसंयमः
amatyaiva pramāpya strīṃ śūdrahatyāvrataṃ caret sarpādīnāṃ badhe naktamanasthnāṃ vāyusaṃyamaḥ
અજાણતા સ્ત્રીની હત્યા થઈ જાય તો શૂદ્ર-હત્યાનું વ્રત કરવું. સાપ વગેરેની હત્યામાં રાત્રે ભોજન કરવું અને હાડકાં વગરના જીવોની હત્યામાં પ્રાણાયામ કરવો.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Selecting expiation based on intention (unintentional killing of a woman) and on the class of creature killed (serpents; boneless beings), prescribing specific observances (night-eating; prāṇāyāma).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Expiations for accidental killing and for killing serpents/boneless creatures","lookup_keywords":["amathyā","strī-pramāpa","naktam","prāṇāyāma","an-asthna"],"quick_summary":"Accidental killing of a woman is expiated like śūdra-killing; killing serpents requires a night-only meal regimen, while killing boneless creatures is expiated through breath-restraint (prāṇāyāma)."}
Concept: Intention modifies culpability; purification can be achieved through regulated conduct (niyama) and inner discipline (prāṇāyāma).
Application: When harm occurs without intent, adopt structured restraint practices—dietary regulation and breath-discipline—to restore ethical and ritual balance.
Khanda Section: Dharma-prāyaścitta (Expiations for Sin and Ritual Atonement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent performing night-only eating (a small lamp-lit meal) and another figure seated in yogic posture practicing prāṇāyāma; a serpent motif and small aquatic/boneless creatures symbolically shown to indicate the categories.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, lamp-lit nocturnal meal scene with a simple leaf-plate; adjacent yogi in padmāsana with stylized breath-lines; serpent coiled as emblem; muted ochres and deep greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted lamp and utensils; yogi with halo-like aureole; serpent rendered as decorative border element; rich jewel tones, devotional-instructional mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic split-panel composition: left ‘naktam’ meal at night, right prāṇāyāma posture with counted breath marks; fine detailing and soft gradients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night courtyard with oil lamp, figure eating modestly; nearby ascetic practicing breath control; naturalistic serpent near a garden edge; intricate architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अमत्यैव → अमात्या + एव; सर्पादीनाम् → सर्प + आदीनाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (kṛcchra, śāntapana, and graded prāyaścitta rules)
FAQs
It prescribes graded prāyaścitta (atonements): accidental killing of a woman is expiated by the Śūdra-killing observance; killing snakes entails night-only eating; killing boneless creatures requires breath-restraint (prāṇāyāma).
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s dharma-śāstra layer by cataloging specific, case-based penances—linking ethics (hiṃsā), ritual discipline (vrata, nakta-bhojana), and yogic technique (prāṇāyāma) into a practical legal-ritual manual.
The verse frames unintended harm as still karmically weighty and teaches purification through proportional discipline—dietary restriction and breath-control—so the doer reduces sin (pāpa) and restores moral-ritual balance.