Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 8
Divya-pramāṇa-kathana
Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure
ये पातककृतां लोका महापातकिनां तथा अग्निदानाञ्च ये लोका ये च स्त्रीबालघातिनां
ye pātakakṛtāṃ lokā mahāpātakināṃ tathā agnidānāñca ye lokā ye ca strībālaghātināṃ
जो लोक साधारण पापियों के हैं, तथा जो महापातकियों के हैं; और जो अग्निदाह करने वालों के हैं, तथा जो स्त्री और बालक-हन्ताओं के हैं—(वे लोक)।
Lord Agni (narrating the doctrine of karmic consequences to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Moral deterrence: classify grave sins and their post-mortem destinations to guide conduct and prescribe expiation.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Realms allotted to sinners and great sinners (including arson and killing women/children)","lookup_keywords":["नरक-वर्णन","महापातक","अग्निदान","स्त्रीबालघात","पातक-लोक"],"quick_summary":"The text enumerates categories of sinners—ordinary and great—and highlights arsonists and killers of women/children as destined for specific dreadful realms."}
Concept: Karma-phala: specific heinous acts (mahāpātaka, arson, killing the vulnerable) lead to correspondingly severe afterlife consequences.
Application: Avoid violence and social-harming crimes; use prayashchitta and restraint to prevent karmic downfall.
Khanda Section: Prayashchitta & Naraka-Varṇana (Sins, Afterlife Consequences, and Expiations)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Cosmic realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic register of hell-realms: messengers of Yama point to different infernal regions assigned to arsonists and killers of women and children, conveying moral horror and consequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic yet stylized Naraka scene, Yama’s attendants indicating separate fiery and dark zones, figures of sinners, strong outlines, limited palette, didactic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central Yama figure with gold ornamentation, surrounding vignettes of different lokas for sinners, fiery motifs for arson, protective aura absent for offenders, rich gilded borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic cosmology of multiple realms, labeled compartments implied by clear separations, Yama-dutas guiding souls, emphasis on clarity over gore","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, multi-panel infernal landscape with fine detail, flames for arsonists, sorrowful figures, attendants pointing to destinations, ornate border and subdued yet intense colors"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: agnidānāñca→agni-dānān ca; strībāla-→strī-bāla- (ī + b sandhi in compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Prayashchitta and Naraka-varnana passages listing sins and their phala (results)
FAQs
It classifies categories of grave wrongdoing—general sin, great sin, arson (agnidāna), and killing women/children—by linking them to specific post-death realms, forming the basis for later discussion of punishments and expiations.
It exemplifies the Purana’s dharma-legal and ethical cataloging: mapping actions to consequences (naraka-loka outcomes), a systematic treatment that sits alongside its ritual, polity, medicine, and literary sciences.
It underscores moral causality: severe harms such as arson and violence against the vulnerable generate heavy karmic retribution, warning the listener and motivating restraint and purification (prāyaścitta).