Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
शरणागतं परित्यज्य वेदं विप्लाव्य च द्विजः संवत्सं यताहारस्तत्पापमपसेधति
śaraṇāgataṃ parityajya vedaṃ viplāvya ca dvijaḥ saṃvatsaṃ yatāhārastatpāpamapasedhati
ശരണാഗതനെ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുകയും വേദത്തെ ലംഘിച്ചു/അപവിത്രമാക്കുകയും ചെയ്ത ദ്വിജൻ, ഒരു വർഷം യതാഹാരം (നിയന്ത്രിത ആഹാരം) പാലിച്ച് ആ പാപം നീക്കുന്നു।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha, within the prāyaścitta section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prescribes a one-year regulated-diet observance as expiation for grave ethical and scriptural offenses (abandoning a refugee; desecrating/violating the Veda).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saṃvatsara-yatāhāra Prāyaścitta for Refuge-Abandonment and Veda-Viplava","lookup_keywords":["śaraṇāgata-tyāga","veda-viplava","saṃvatsara-vrata","yatāhāra","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"For abandoning one who sought refuge and for violating the sanctity of the Veda, a dvija removes sin by living for a year on restricted, regulated food."}
Concept: Śaraṇāgati-protection and Veda-satkara are foundational; their breach demands prolonged self-restraint to re-train character and restore dharmic alignment.
Application: Treat refuge-seekers as inviolable responsibility; handle sacred texts/teaching with strict reverence; if violated, adopt sustained corrective discipline.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta (Expiation) and Śuddhi-vidhi
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A twice-born man, repentant, follows a year-long vow of regulated food, shown through seasonal cycle imagery and daily measured meals, with the Veda kept respectfully on a stand and a refugee figure in the background as moral reminder.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four seasonal panels around central penitent dvija, Veda on wooden stand, refugee at doorway, earthy pigments, solemn dharma mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure with gold halo of resolve, symbolic calendar wheel for one year, small depiction of Veda on pedestal, rich gold work yet austere posture","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene: measured bowl, list-like visual of 'yatāhāra', clean interior āśrama, soft shading, emphasis on discipline","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined domestic courtyard, scholar on simple mat, attendant offering small portion, manuscript wrapped in cloth, delicate border showing months"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śaraṇāgataṃ → śaraṇa-āgatam; yatāhāras → yata-āhāraḥ; tatpāpam → tat-pāpam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (śuddhi-vidhi and long-duration prāyaścittas)
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta: a one-year observance of yatāhāra (regulated, restrained diet) as an expiation for two grave breaches—abandoning a person seeking refuge and desecrating/violating the Veda.
Alongside rituals, cosmology, polity, and arts, the Agni Purana also systematizes dharma-śāstric material—cataloging specific sins and matching them with practical expiations—making it a compendium of applied religious law and ethical discipline.
The verse frames refuge-betrayal and Veda-violation as heavy karmic faults, and teaches that disciplined self-restraint (especially through food regulation over time) functions as purification, reducing the karmic burden and restoring dharmic standing.