Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
व्रतं चान्द्रायणं कुर्युस्त्रिरात्रं शूद्र एव तु चण्डालकूपभाण्डेषु अज्ञानात्पिवते जलं
vrataṃ cāndrāyaṇaṃ kuryustrirātraṃ śūdra eva tu caṇḍālakūpabhāṇḍeṣu ajñānātpivate jalaṃ
ຖ້າຊູດຣະ (Śūdra) ດື່ມນ້ໍາໂດຍຄວາມບໍ່ຮູ້ ຈາກບໍ່ນ້ໍາຂອງຈັນດາລາ ຫຼືຈາກພາຊະນະຂອງຈັນດາລາ ຄວນຖືວຣະຕະ Cāndrāyaṇa; ຫຼືອີກທາງໜຶ່ງ ຖືພິທີສາມຄືນ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for a Śūdra who unknowingly drinks water from a caṇḍāla’s well/vessel: undertake Cāndrāyaṇa or a lighter three-night observance as an alternative.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for Śūdra drinking from Caṇḍāla well/vessel (ajñānataḥ)","lookup_keywords":["śūdra","ajñānataḥ","kūpa","jala","cāndrāyaṇa"],"quick_summary":"If a Śūdra unknowingly drinks water from a caṇḍāla’s well or vessel, expiation is prescribed as Cāndrāyaṇa, with a three-night observance offered as an alternative."}
Concept: Culpability is mitigated by ignorance (ajñāna), hence graded penance; water sources are ritually classified.
Application: Mark and manage water sources in settlements; when accidental breach occurs, follow proportionate observance to restore ritual normalcy.
Khanda Section: Dharma-prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Vows)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village well scene: a Śūdra unknowingly draws water from a caṇḍāla-marked well/vessel; later he undertakes a three-night vow or lunar Cāndrāyaṇa discipline.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, village well with symbolic markers, figure drawing water, then seated in vrata with three night-sky motifs, stylized palms and simple architecture","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, well rendered with gold highlights on the water pot, central penitent with prayer beads, three small moonlit panels above indicating trirātra, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of well vs vessel, labels via visual cues, then vow observance with counted nights, delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling village well, subtle sign of ownership, narrative follow-up of penance in courtyard, fine detail on pots and garments"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: व्रतं चान्द्रायणं = व्रतम् + च + आन्द्रायणम्; कुर्युस्त्रिरात्रं = कुर्युः + त्रिरात्रम्; अज्ञानात्पिवते = अज्ञानात् + पिवते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (water-source impurities; graded vows)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific expiation (prāyaścitta): undertaking the Cāndrāyaṇa vow (or a three-night observance) when a Śūdra unknowingly drinks water associated with a Caṇḍāla’s well or vessels.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana compiles practical Dharmaśāstra material—detailed penances, purity rules, and corrective rites—functioning as a handbook for social-ritual regulation and religious remediation.
The instruction frames accidental contact with ritually prohibited sources as a remediable impurity: performing the prescribed vow is meant to neutralize the resulting pāpa and restore ritual eligibility and inner purity.