Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 45
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
भक्ष्यभोज्यापहरणे यानशय्यासनस्य च पुष्पमूलफलानाञ्च पञ्चगव्यं विशोधनं
bhakṣyabhojyāpaharaṇe yānaśayyāsanasya ca puṣpamūlaphalānāñca pañcagavyaṃ viśodhanaṃ
भक्ष्य‑भोज्य का अपहरण (या अपवित्रीकरण), तथा वाहन, शय्या, आसन के विषय में, और पुष्प‑मूल‑फल के मामले में—शोधन पञ्चगव्य से करना चाहिए।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Ritual purification after theft/defilement of food and household conveyances/furnishings using pañcagavya; household śuddhi protocol.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcagavya-śodhana for food and household items","lookup_keywords":["pañcagavya","viśodhana","bhakṣya-bhojya","yāna","śayyā-āsana"],"quick_summary":"When foods, vehicles, beds, seats, and certain natural items are affected by wrongful taking/defilement, purification is performed using pañcagavya (five cow-products) as a śuddhi medium."}
Concept: Śuddhi is maintained through prescribed purificants; domestic life is governed by ritual-ethical hygiene.
Application: Apply codified purification media (pañcagavya) to restore ritual fitness of food and household objects after transgression/contamination.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Purification rites and expiations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A household purification: pañcagavya prepared and applied/used for cleansing after food or household items (vehicle, bed, seat) are defiled; cow and vessels shown as sacred sources.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, domestic courtyard with sacred cow, vessels containing pañcagavya components, householder performing śuddhi rite near food pots and a simple cot/seat, earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, cow as auspicious centerpiece with gold detailing, householder holding ritual vessel of pañcagavya, stylized bed/seat and food vessels in background, devotional purity theme.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: labeled pañcagavya vessel and items to be purified (bhakṣya-bhojya, yāna, śayyā, āsana), clear lines and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed household interior with utensils and furnishings, cow in courtyard, attendant preparing a purificatory mixture, fine object realism and balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भक्ष्यभोज्यापहरणे = भक्ष्य-भोज्य-अपहरणे; यानशय्यासनस्य = यान-शय्या-आसनस्य; पुष्पमूलफलानाञ्च = पुष्प-मूल-फलानाम् च; पञ्चगव्यं = पञ्च-गव्यम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (śuddhi media and prāyaścitta gradations)
FAQs
It prescribes pañcagavya as the standard purificatory substance for restoring ritual purity when foods (bhakṣya/bhojya), and common supports like bed/seat/vehicle, or items like flowers, roots, and fruits are affected by wrongful taking or impurity.
It functions like a practical dharma-manual entry: the text catalogs concrete purification procedures for everyday objects and consumables, showing the Agni Purana’s wide coverage beyond mythology into applied ritual law (śuddhi and prāyaścitta).
Using pañcagavya is presented as a means to remove ritual defilement and the karmic taint associated with improperly obtained or contaminated items, enabling the practitioner to resume worship, offerings, and daily rites in a state of purity.