Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 9
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
षड्भिर्वर्षैः शुद्धचारी ब्रह्महा पूयते नरः विहितं यदकामा मां कामात्तु द्विगुणं स्मृतं
ṣaḍbhirvarṣaiḥ śuddhacārī brahmahā pūyate naraḥ vihitaṃ yadakāmā māṃ kāmāttu dviguṇaṃ smṛtaṃ
ശുദ്ധാചാരം പാലിക്കുന്ന ബ്രഹ്മഹന്തകൻ ആറു വർഷത്തിൽ ശുദ്ധനാകുന്നു. ആഗ്രഹരഹിതമായി (നിഷ്കാമമായി) ചെയ്യുന്നതാണ് വിധിപ്രകാരം; എന്നാൽ ആഗ്രഹത്തോടെ ചെയ്താൽ പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം ഇരട്ടിയെന്ന് സ്മൃതി പറയുന്നു।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s common narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Explains conditional reduction/augmentation of penance: purity of conduct can shorten purification; intention (desire-driven vs desireless) changes the required expiation, with kāmya performance doubling the burden.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta-phala: Śuddhācāra and Intention (Akāma vs Kāma)","lookup_keywords":["śuddhācāra","akāma","kāma","dviguṇa prāyaścitta","brahmahatyā śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Purification depends not only on the act but on conduct and motive: sustained purity can cleanse in six years, while desire-motivated performance entails a penance twice as great as desireless observance."}
Concept: Bhāva (intention) and ācāra (conduct) are decisive in dharmic evaluation; the same outward act differs in moral weight by motive.
Application: In vows, charity, and penance, cultivate niṣkāma attitude and consistent conduct; avoid instrumentalizing dharma for personal gain.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Atonements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A split-scene: on one side a penitent practicing pure conduct over years; on the other, a similar penance performed with visible desire/attachment, shown by grasping gestures or worldly symbols, with a scale indicating doubled burden.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diptych, two panels of the same ascetic: serene niṣkāma side with calm aura, kāmya side with restless eyes and worldly motifs, symbolic balance scale between","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, symmetrical composition with gold scale motif, two penitent figures contrasted by halos (pure) vs ornate temptations (desire), rich gilded borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional diagram-like painting: labels for akāma and kāma, timeline of six years vs doubled penance, fine linework and gentle colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, moral allegory: two ascetics in different settings, one austere hermitage, one near courtly allure, a scribe noting 'dviguṇa', refined detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣaḍbhirvarṣaiḥ = ṣaḍbhiḥ + varṣaiḥ; kāmāttu = kāmāt + tu. Segment ‘yadakāmā’ likely intends yad akāmāt / yad akāmena (variant/metrical).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (rules on durations and conditions of expiation)
FAQs
It gives a prāyaścitta rule: brahmahatyā is expiated by six years of śuddha-caryā (disciplined pure conduct), and penance is doubled when performed with desire rather than desirelessly.
It exemplifies the text’s dharma-śāstra style coverage—codifying legal-ethical rules for sin, intention, and expiation—alongside its many other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, and arts).
It links inner intention to karmic purification: selfless observance purifies more directly, while desire-tainted penance requires greater effort (dviguṇa) to neutralize the same moral fault.