Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
शतं शहुनेदिति ख , छ च शतहोमाच्छुचिर्भवेदिति ख , घ , ञ च कृते पापे ऽनुतापो वै यस्य पुंसः प्रजायते प्रायश्चित्तन्तु तस्यैकं हरिसंस्मरणं परं
śataṃ śahunediti kha , cha ca śatahomācchucirbhavediti kha , gha , ña ca kṛte pāpe 'nutāpo vai yasya puṃsaḥ prajāyate prāyaścittantu tasyaikaṃ harisaṃsmaraṇaṃ paraṃ
«(ບາງສຳນວນກ່າວວ່າ) ‘ໃຫ້ສວດສູດສາຫຸນະ 100 ເທື່ອ’ ແລະ (ອື່ນໆກ່າວວ່າ) ‘ໂດຍໂຮມະ 100 ຄັ້ງ ຈຶ່ງບໍລິສຸດ’។ ແຕ່ສຳລັບຜູ້ຊາຍຜູ້ໃດທີ່ເຮັດບາບແລ້ວເກີດຄວາມສຳນຶກຜິດຢ່າງແທ້ຈິງ ປຣາຍະຊິດຕະອັນສູງສຸດມີຢ່າງດຽວ: ການລະລຶກຮາຣິ (ວິສນຸ).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Guidance for expiation: textual variants on japa/homa are noted, but the verse elevates remorse and Hari-smaraṇa as the supreme, universally accessible atonement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Supreme prāyaścitta: remorse and Hari-smaraṇa (with variant readings)","lookup_keywords":["hari-smaraṇa","anutāpa","prāyaścitta","śata-homa","pāṭha-bheda"],"quick_summary":"While some recensions prescribe a hundred recitations or a hundred oblations for purity, the text asserts that for one who truly repents, the highest single expiation is remembrance of Hari."}
Concept: Inner transformation (anutāpa) and sustained God-remembrance can function as the highest purifier, surpassing merely mechanical expiations.
Application: After wrongdoing, cultivate genuine remorse, cease the harmful act, and adopt regular Hari-smaraṇa (japa, nāma, dhyāna) as a stabilizing corrective practice.
Khanda Section: Prayashchitta (Atonement) and Smarana-bhakti (Remembrance of Hari)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A remorseful person sits with folded hands, eyes lowered in repentance, then turns inward to remember Hari; in the background, alternative expiations (homa fire, japa beads) are shown as secondary supports.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central figure in penitent posture, subtle depiction of Viṣṇu/Hari as a radiant presence above the heart-lotus, side vignette of homa-kunda and japa-mālā, warm ochres and greens, serene devotional mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Hari (Viṣṇu) as the luminous focus with gold halo, devotee below in anutāpa, small inset of homa and japa as ancillary, heavy ornamentation and gold work emphasizing divine grace.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: left panel ‘external’ (100 homa, 100 japa), right panel ‘supreme’ (Hari-smaraṇa with repentant devotee), fine outlines, gentle shading, readable symbolism.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior: a penitent figure with rosary, a small fire-altar in the corner, a visionary apparition of Hari in a cloud medallion, delicate borders and textiles, restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पापे + अनुतापः → पापेऽनुतापः (अ + अ → ऽ); प्रायश्चित्तम् + तु → प्रायश्चित्तन्तु (म् + त् → न्त्); शतहोमात् + शुचिः → शतहोमाच्छुचिः (त् + श् → च्छ्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: prāyaścitta discussions contrasting external rites with bhakti-based purification; Agni Purana: Viṣṇu-smaraṇa/stotra materials
FAQs
It contrasts ritual expiation methods (e.g., repeated recitation or a hundred homa-offerings, per manuscript variants) with an inner-practice principle: if genuine remorse arises after sin, the prescribed highest prāyaścitta is Hari-smaraṇa (continuous remembrance of Viṣṇu).
It shows the text’s multi-domain approach—listing ritual options (homa/mantra-based purification) while also presenting a devotional-ethical framework (contrition and Hari-smaraṇa) as a culminating, integrative doctrine within dharma and prāyaścitta discussions.
The verse elevates sincere repentance and God-remembrance as the most effective purifier, indicating that inner transformation (anutāpa) combined with devotion (smaraṇa of Hari) can function as the supreme means of karmic cleansing.