Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 48
Divya-pramāṇa-kathana
Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure
संश्राव्य पापयेत्तस्माज्जलात्तु प्रसृतित्रयम् आचतुर्दशमादह्नो यस्य नो राजदैविकम्
saṃśrāvya pāpayettasmājjalāttu prasṛtitrayam ācaturdaśamādahno yasya no rājadaivikam
दोष श्राव्य करून (म्हणजे उघडपणे कबूल करून) प्रायश्चित्त करावे; म्हणून त्या जलातून तीन प्रसृती पाणी प्यावे. चौदाव्या दिवसापर्यंत हा नियम, जेव्हा दोष ना राजकीय असतो ना दैविक (देव-अपराध).
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Atonement protocol: public acknowledgment/confession and regulated water-drinking (three prasṛtis daily) up to the 14th day for non-royal and non-divine faults.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta by proclamation and water-drinking (3 prasṛti) up to 14 days","lookup_keywords":["prāyaścitta","saṃśrāvya","prasṛti","jala-pāna","caturdaśa-aha"],"quick_summary":"For certain faults not classed as state-crimes or sacrilege, expiation includes making the matter known and drinking a measured quantity of water daily for up to fourteen days."}
Concept: Accountability (saṃśrāvaṇa) and self-restraint (niyama) as means of moral purification; gradation of faults (non-royal, non-divine).
Application: Adopt transparent confession/acknowledgment and a time-bound, measurable penance under guidance, distinguishing private faults from public/state and sacrilegious offenses.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Ritual Atonements and Purifications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent publicly acknowledges a fault before elders, then performs a measured water-drinking vow over a counted series of days.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, village assembly with elders, penitent with añjali, later seated with copper cup measuring prasṛti, palm-leaf tally marks for fourteen days, austere palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, penitent before a small shrine and elders, gold accents on vessels and haloed dharma symbols, emphasis on ritual measure and purity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: measuring three prasṛtis with a standard cup, calendar-like fourteen-day sequence, fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate gathering with scribal record of confession, precise depiction of water vessel and measured cup, architectural interior with carpets"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पापयेत्तस्मात् → पापयेत् + तस्मात्; जलात्तु → जलात् + तु; प्रसृतित्रयम् → प्रसृति-त्रयम्; आचतुर्दशमादह्नो → आ-चतुर्दशम् + आदह्नः (आदह्नः sandhi/orthography); राजदैविकम् → राज-दैविकम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 254 (prāyaścitta and śuddhi procedures; divya-pramāṇa context)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta: public declaration/confession followed by drinking a measured quantity of water (three prasṛtis) as a purification observance extending up to fourteen days for certain minor faults.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical dharma-manual by detailing measurable, time-bound expiations—showing its coverage of ritual law and everyday governance of conduct.
The act of confession plus regulated water-intake serves as a cleansing austerity (tapas) intended to neutralize minor karmic impurity, while distinguishing such faults from graver royal or sacrilegious offences requiring heavier penance.