Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 42
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
रुक्मस्तेयी सुरापश् च ब्रह्महा गुरुतल्पगः स्तेयं कृत्वा सुरां पीत्वा कृच्छ्रञ्चाब्दं चरेन्नरः
rukmasteyī surāpaś ca brahmahā gurutalpagaḥ steyaṃ kṛtvā surāṃ pītvā kṛcchrañcābdaṃ carennaraḥ
सोना चुराने वाला, मदिरा पीने वाला, ब्राह्मण‑हन्ता और गुरु‑शय्या का उल्लंघन करने वाला—चोरी करके और सुरा पीकर, मनुष्य को एक वर्ष तक कृच्छ्र प्रायश्चित्त करना चाहिए।
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s prāyaścitta section, traditionally narrated to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Assigning expiation (prāyaścitta) for major transgressions like theft and intoxication; guiding social-ritual restoration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṛcchra-vrata for mahāpātaka-associated acts (theft, liquor)","lookup_keywords":["kṛcchra","rukma-steya","surāpāna","brahmahatyā","gurutalpagamana"],"quick_summary":"For grave sins—especially theft and drinking liquor—one is enjoined to perform the Kṛcchra penance for a year as a means of purification and reintegration."}
Concept: Prāyaścitta as a corrective discipline for transgression, emphasizing accountability and restraint.
Application: Use codified penances (like Kṛcchra) proportionate to the offense to restore ethical order and personal discipline.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations for sins)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent undertakes a year-long Kṛcchra discipline under a learned guide, symbolically renouncing gold and liquor and adopting austere conduct.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dharma-śāstra scene: guru-like brāhmaṇa instructing a repentant man, ritual purity motifs, subdued palette, solemn mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, penitent seated before a dharma-ācārya, palm-leaf scripture visible, gold detailing on manuscript edges, emphasis on vow-taking gesture (añjali).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic tableau: labels for 'steya' and 'surāpāna', depiction of vow initiation, clean composition suited to instructional content.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly-legal setting with a learned jurist, penitent in simple dress, symbolic items (gold ornament, wine vessel) set aside, fine architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रुक्मस्तेयी = रुक्म-स्तेयी; सुरापश् = सुरापः; गुरुतल्पगः = गुरु-तल्प-गः; कृच्छ्रञ्चाब्दं = कृच्छ्रम् च अब्दम्; चरेन्नरः = चरेत् नरः (त् + न → न्न)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (mahāpātaka/prāyaścitta sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta: undertaking the Kṛcchra austerity for one year as expiation connected with grave transgressions such as theft and drinking surā.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions like a dharma manual by cataloging legal-ritual remedies (penances) for defined offenses, integrating ethics, social order, and ritual purification into its wide-ranging knowledge system.
It frames severe misconduct as producing heavy karmic impurity and teaches that disciplined austerity (Kṛcchra) is a means of self-purification and restoration of dharmic standing.