Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 37
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
ये प्रत्यवसिता विप्राः प्रव्रज्यादिबलात्तथा भक्ष्यभोज्यविशुद्ध्यर्थमिति झ लोभाद्भुक्त्वेति ख , ग , घ , ङ , छ च अनाशकनिवृताश् च तेषां शुद्धिः प्रचक्ष्यते
ye pratyavasitā viprāḥ pravrajyādibalāttathā bhakṣyabhojyaviśuddhyarthamiti jha lobhādbhuktveti kha , ga , gha , ṅa , cha ca anāśakanivṛtāś ca teṣāṃ śuddhiḥ pracakṣyate
जो ब्राह्मण नियत व्रत में स्थित हैं, तथा जो प्रव्रज्या आदि परिस्थितियों के दबाव से (ऐसा करने को) बाध्य हुए, और जो ‘भक्ष्य-भोज्य की शुद्धि के लिए’ ऐसा समझकर खा बैठे, या लोभवश खा गए, तथा जिन्होंने उपवास तोड़ दिया—उन सबकी शुद्धि (प्रायश्चित्त) अब कही जाती है।
Lord Agni (teaching the Purāṇic dharma to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Classifies cases/persons (vrata-bound, compelled by pravrajyā-like circumstances, intention of purification, greed, broken fast) for whom specific purification rules will be stated—guiding adjudication of expiation by context and intent.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Adhikāra-bheda: who requires which śuddhi after irregular eating","lookup_keywords":["vrata","pravrajyā","lobha","anāśaka","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Purification is not one-size-fits-all; the text signals that expiation varies by status (observance/renunciation), compulsion, intention, greed, and breaking a fast."}
Concept: Dharma-judgment depends on adhikāra (who), nimitta (cause/compulsion), and bhāva (intention), not merely the outward act.
Application: When evaluating a lapse, consider motive and circumstance (e.g., compulsion vs greed) before prescribing penance; apply proportionality.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Śauca–Prāyaścitta: rules of purity and expiation for food and conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher of dharma enumerates categories of brāhmaṇas and circumstances (observance, renunciation-compulsion, intention, greed, broken fast) before declaring their purifications.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru seated on a low seat with palm-leaf manuscript, students in rows, hand gestures indicating enumeration of categories, serene didactic tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, dharma-ācārya with manuscript and stylus, gold-work halo-like arch, small grouped figures representing different cases (ascetic, fasting person, greedy eater).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, schematic instructional composition: labeled groups around a central teacher—vratī, pravrajita, śuddhy-artha, lobhī, fast-breaker—fine detailing and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly in a madrasa-like pavilion adapted to Sanskritic setting, a pandit pointing to a list while varied figures listen, rich borders and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रव्रज्यादिबलात् = प्रव्रज्यादि + बलात्; लोभाद्भुक्त्वा = लोभात् + भुक्त्वा; निवृताश् च = निवृताः + च (विसर्ग-लोप)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170.38–170.40 (subsequent śuddhi/prāyaścitta prescriptions)
FAQs
It classifies cases requiring śuddhi/prāyaścitta related to eating—under vow, under compulsion (e.g., pravrajyā), under a ‘purification’ rationale, out of greed, or after breaking a fast—and announces that their specific purification will be prescribed.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning like a dharma manual: it systematizes everyday ethical-ritual contingencies (food, vows, motive, necessity) and links them to graded rules of expiation, alongside its many other subjects.
The verse distinguishes motive and circumstance in karmic fault: greed aggravates, necessity mitigates, and prescribed śuddhi restores ritual fitness and reduces the karmic consequences of improper consumption or broken observances.