Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 26
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
वैश्ये ऽष्टमांशे वृत्तस्थे शूद्रे ज्ञेयस्तु षोडशः मार्जरनकुलौ हत्वा चासं मण्डूकमेव च
vaiśye 'ṣṭamāṃśe vṛttasthe śūdre jñeyastu ṣoḍaśaḥ mārjaranakulau hatvā cāsaṃ maṇḍūkameva ca
ចំពោះវៃឝ្យៈ ការលោះបាបត្រូវយល់ថា មានត្រឹមមួយភាគប្រាំបី (១/៨) នៃមាត្រដ្ឋាន; ចំពោះឝូទ្រៈ ត្រូវដឹងថា មួយភាគដប់ប្រាំមួយ (១/១៦) — នេះអនុវត្តនៅពេលសម្លាប់ឆ្មា និងសត្វមុងហ្គូស (នកុល) ហើយដូចគ្នានេះ សត្វកង្កែបផងដែរ។
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Prayashchitta","practical_application":"Computing reduced expiation fractions by varṇa/status (Vaiśya one-eighth, Śūdra one-sixteenth) for specific minor killings (cat, mongoose, frog), enabling proportional penance assignment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Fractional prāyaścitta for killing cat/mongoose/frog (Vaiśya 1/8, Śūdra 1/16)","lookup_keywords":["vaiśya","śūdra","aṣṭamāṃśa","ṣoḍaśa-bhāga","mārjāra-nakula-maṇḍūka-vadha"],"quick_summary":"For certain minor animal killings, the expiation is scaled: a Vaiśya performs one-eighth of the standard measure, and a Śūdra one-sixteenth, reflecting graded juridical penance."}
Concept: Proportionality and social calibration in expiation: the ‘measure’ of penance is adjusted by status and offense category.
Application: Rule-based determination of penance fractions in community adjudication and personal atonement.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Prayashchitta / Penances and Expiations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A juridical/ritual teacher indicates fractional measures on a counting board or palm-leaf chart—1/8 and 1/16—next to small drawings of a cat, mongoose, and frog, illustrating proportional expiation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: a guru-like figure pointing to a palm-leaf chart with fractions, stylized cat/mongoose/frog icons, earthy tones, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate gold-bordered panel with a chart motif showing 1/8 and 1/16, small animal vignettes, dignified teacher figure, symbolic rather than graphic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional diagram with labeled fractions and animal sketches, teacher seated with stylus and manuscript, precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholar in a study with ledger-like folio showing fractional calculations, delicate animal marginalia, refined detail and calm palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vaiśye 'ṣṭamāṃśe→वैश्ये+अष्टम-अंशे; jñeyastu→ज्ञेयः+तु; cāsaṃ→च+असम्; maṇḍūkameva→मण्डूकम्+एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (tables of expiations for killings and impurities)
FAQs
It gives a graded prāyaścitta scale: for the stated offence (killing a cat, mongoose, or frog), the expiation is reduced according to varṇa—one-eighth for a Vaiśya and one-sixteenth for a Śūdra—relative to the chapter’s standard measure.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves Dharma-śāstra-like legal-ritual material, including quantified penances for specific acts and their social gradations, functioning as a practical handbook of conduct and purification.
It frames the killing of certain creatures as a karmically blameworthy act requiring ritual purification, and teaches that intentional wrongdoing should be countered by proportionate expiation to restore ritual and moral order.