Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
वेणुचर्मामिषाणाञ्चेति झ यत् करोत्येकरात्रेण वृषलीसेवनं द्विजः तद्भैक्ष्यभुक् जपेन्नित्यं त्रिभिर्वषैर् व्यपोहति
veṇucarmāmiṣāṇāñceti jha yat karotyekarātreṇa vṛṣalīsevanaṃ dvijaḥ tadbhaikṣyabhuk japennityaṃ tribhirvaṣair vyapohati
द्विज एका रात्रीत शूद्रा स्त्रीचा संग करून जो दोष करतो—जो वेणु, चर्म व मांस-संबंधी अपवित्र कर्मास तुल्य आहे—तो भिक्षावृत्तीने अन्न घेऊन व नित्य जप करून तीन वर्षांत तो दोष दूर करतो।
Lord Agni (narrating dharma and prāyaścitta instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prescribes a long-term expiation regimen (bhikṣā-based living and daily japa) for a dvija’s single-night transgression of consorting with a śūdra-woman, framed alongside other ‘impure’ dealings (bamboo, hides, meat).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Three-year expiation for vṛṣalī-sevana: bhikṣā and nitya-japa","lookup_keywords":["vṛṣalī-sevana","bhaiṣya-bhuk","japa","trivarṣa","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"A dvija’s sin from a single night of consorting with a śūdra-woman is removed by living on alms and performing daily recitation; the expiation completes in three years."}
Concept: Sustained self-restraint (bhikṣā-vṛtti) and mantra-recitation (nitya-japa) function as transformative penance over time.
Application: Adopt a regulated livelihood (alms-only), daily japa discipline, and long-duration commitment (three years) as a structured corrective path.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Atonements)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija ascetic-like figure with a begging bowl goes door to door for alms; later he sits daily in japa with a rosary. A subtle timeline motif indicates ‘three years’ of disciplined expiation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-register composition: upper register bhikṣā round with begging bowl; lower register seated japa on kusa mat; muted palette, strong outlines, emphasis on austerity and time.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, dvija with begging bowl and rosary, gold-work halo-like border around the discipline theme, stylized houses for alms-giving, solemn devotional austerity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional sequence panels: (1) bhikṣā-bhuk lifestyle, (2) nitya-japa posture and mala, (3) ‘3 years’ indicated by three marked segments; fine linework and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, street and courtyard scenes with realistic architecture; dvija receiving small alms portions, then seated in quiet japa; detailed textiles, subdued moral narrative tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: veṇu+carmāmiṣāṇām→veṇucarmāmiṣāṇām (dvandva compaction); karoti+eka-rātreṇa→karotyekarātreṇa; tat+bhaikṣya-bhuk→tadbhaikṣyabhuk; japet+nityam→jape(n)nityaṃ; tribhiḥ+vaṣaiḥ→tribhirvaṣair
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (prāyaścitta for sexual transgressions; japa-based expiations)
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta: subsisting on alms (bhaikṣā) and performing daily japa for three years to expiate the sin arising from vṛṣalī-sevana committed even in a single night.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also functions as a dharma compendium, preserving detailed legal-ethical norms and expiatory procedures (prāyaścitta) comparable to Dharmaśāstra literature.
It frames serious moral transgression as karmically removable through disciplined austerity—humble livelihood on alms and sustained mantra-recitation—culminating in purification over a defined term (three years).