Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
प्राश्य मूत्रपुरीषाणि द्विजश्चान्द्रायणं चरेत् शुष्काणि जग्ध्वा मांसानि प्रेतान्नं करकाणि च
prāśya mūtrapurīṣāṇi dvijaścāndrāyaṇaṃ caret śuṣkāṇi jagdhvā māṃsāni pretānnaṃ karakāṇi ca
បើបុរសទ្វិជ (dvija) បានផឹកទឹកនោម ឬអសារធាតុ (លាមក) ឬបានបរិភោគសាច់ស្ងួត អាហារសម្រាប់ព្រេត (preta) ឬសំណល់ប្រភេទការក (karaka) នោះគាត់គួរធ្វើវត្ដព្រហ្មចរិយាប្រាយស្ចិត្ដ «ចន្ទ្រាយណ» (Cāndrāyaṇa)។
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for expiation when a dvija violates purity by ingesting highly impure substances or prohibited foods; prescribes Cāndrāyaṇa as corrective vow.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Cāndrāyaṇa expiation for ingestion of urine/feces and other impure foods","lookup_keywords":["cāndrāyaṇa","prāyaścitta","mūtra-purīṣa","preta-anna","aśuci-bhojana"],"quick_summary":"If a twice-born consumes urine/feces or certain impure/prohibited foods (dried meat, preta-offerings, scraps), the remedy is the Cāndrāyaṇa vow with regulated lunar-cycle diet."}
Concept: Prāyaścitta restores inner/outer purity through disciplined vow (niyama) rather than mere regret.
Application: Adopt structured austerity (regulated intake, self-control, confession/ritual steps as per tradition) after grave impurity to re-enter rites and social life.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Vows)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija performing Cāndrāyaṇa: lunar calendar motif, measured portions of food, water-pot, and a secluded purification setting; the impure foods are shown only symbolically as rejected items.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic dvija seated on a mat with a crescent-moon cycle painted behind, small bowls indicating increasing/decreasing portions, ritual water vessel, muted solemn palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold haloed moon-disc behind the practitioner, ornate border, the vow chart rendered as decorative panel, emphasis on sanctity and purification.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: a clear lunar-phase diagram with portion counts, practitioner measuring grains, clean lines and labels, calm instructional tone.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a scholar-ascetic in a quiet courtyard, attendants recording the vow, moon phases in the sky band, fine detail of utensils and measured servings."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्विजश्च = द्विजः + च; प्रेतान्नम् = प्रेत + अन्नम् (tatpuruṣa).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 168 (Prāyaścitta rules; Cāndrāyaṇa occurrences)
FAQs
It prescribes the Cāndrāyaṇa vow as the formal expiation when a dvija consumes highly impure substances (excreta, funerary food, or contaminated meat/remnants).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogs practical Dharmaśāstra-style regulations—here, a specific mapping of taboo consumption to a standardized penance (Cāndrāyaṇa).
Such intake is treated as severe ritual pollution; undertaking Cāndrāyaṇa is meant to remove the resulting impurity and karmic fault through regulated austerity and purification.