Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
सम्यग् ज्ञातस्तु कालेन तस्य कुर्वीत शोधनं चान्द्रायणं पराकं वा द्विजानान्तु विशोधनं
samyag jñātastu kālena tasya kurvīta śodhanaṃ cāndrāyaṇaṃ parākaṃ vā dvijānāntu viśodhanaṃ
Apabila (kesalahan atau kenajisan) telah dikenal pasti dengan tepat beserta waktunya (dan keadaannya), hendaklah dilakukan penyuciannya—sama ada dengan tapa Cāndrāyaṇa atau tapa Parāka; inilah cara penyucian bagi golongan dvija (yang “dua kali lahir”).
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Prayashchitta","practical_application":"Selecting the correct expiation (Cāndrāyaṇa or Parāka) only after properly determining the offence, timing, and circumstances for dvijas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Decision-rule: ascertainment (kāla) before Cāndrāyaṇa/Parāka purification for dvijas","lookup_keywords":["cāndrāyaṇa","parāka","dvija-śuddhi","kāla-nirṇaya","śodhana"],"quick_summary":"After correctly determining the fault and its timing, a dvija should undertake purification by Cāndrāyaṇa or Parāka, emphasizing due process in expiation."}
Concept: Yathā-doṣa yathā-kāla prāyaścitta: expiation must be proportionate and context-sensitive, grounded in correct ascertainment.
Application: Before prescribing penance, verify facts (what, when, how) to avoid under/over-expiation and to restore eligibility for rites.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta-vidhi (Expiations and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: dharmika
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A jurist-like brāhmaṇa and a householder consult a calendar and palm-leaf text to determine the proper time and then choose between Cāndrāyaṇa and Parāka penances, shown as lunar phases and measured food portions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholar with palm-leaf manuscript and lunar disc motif, penitent seated in restraint, simple ritual setting, emphasis on kāla (time) with moon phases painted along the border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central figure holding a manuscript titled ‘Cāndrāyaṇa’, gold-highlighted moon crescent motifs, secondary panel ‘Parāka’, rich ornamentation but calm faces, didactic dharma theme","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional diagram feel: moon-phase arc above, measured morsels/fasting symbols, teacher pointing to ‘kāla’ determination, soft colors and precise lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate study scene with astrolabe/calendar, scribe and scholar, marginal moon-phase illustrations, refined interior, subdued palette, emphasis on deliberation"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्ञातस्तु = ज्ञातः + तु; चान्द्रायणं = च + आन्द्रायणम् (here written as a single word; phonetic coalescence); द्विजानान्तु = द्विजानाम् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (prāyaścitta decision sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes prāyaścitta (expiatory purification) after correctly determining the offence and its timing, recommending either the Cāndrāyaṇa vow or the Parāka penance as formal śodhana for dvijas.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a compendium of applied dharma, including legal-ritual procedures for sin-removal and social-religious purification—here summarizing recognized penances used in Dharma-śāstra practice.
It frames purification as a disciplined, correctly-timed expiation: by undertaking regulated vows like Cāndrāyaṇa or Parāka, one ritually and karmically cleanses the impurity associated with wrongdoing, restoring eligibility for Vedic duties.