Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 42
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
रुक्मस्तेयी सुरापश् च ब्रह्महा गुरुतल्पगः स्तेयं कृत्वा सुरां पीत्वा कृच्छ्रञ्चाब्दं चरेन्नरः
rukmasteyī surāpaś ca brahmahā gurutalpagaḥ steyaṃ kṛtvā surāṃ pītvā kṛcchrañcābdaṃ carennaraḥ
ସୁନା ଚୋର, ସୁରାପାନକାରୀ, ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣହନ୍ତା ଓ ଗୁରୁଶୟ୍ୟା‑ଲଂଘକ—ଚୋରି କରି ସୁରା ପିଇଥିଲେ, ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଏକ ବର୍ଷ ‘କୃଚ୍ଛ୍ର’ ପ୍ରାୟଶ୍ଚିତ୍ତ ଆଚରଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s prāyaścitta section, traditionally narrated to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Assigning expiation (prāyaścitta) for major transgressions like theft and intoxication; guiding social-ritual restoration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṛcchra-vrata for mahāpātaka-associated acts (theft, liquor)","lookup_keywords":["kṛcchra","rukma-steya","surāpāna","brahmahatyā","gurutalpagamana"],"quick_summary":"For grave sins—especially theft and drinking liquor—one is enjoined to perform the Kṛcchra penance for a year as a means of purification and reintegration."}
Concept: Prāyaścitta as a corrective discipline for transgression, emphasizing accountability and restraint.
Application: Use codified penances (like Kṛcchra) proportionate to the offense to restore ethical order and personal discipline.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations for sins)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent undertakes a year-long Kṛcchra discipline under a learned guide, symbolically renouncing gold and liquor and adopting austere conduct.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dharma-śāstra scene: guru-like brāhmaṇa instructing a repentant man, ritual purity motifs, subdued palette, solemn mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, penitent seated before a dharma-ācārya, palm-leaf scripture visible, gold detailing on manuscript edges, emphasis on vow-taking gesture (añjali).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic tableau: labels for 'steya' and 'surāpāna', depiction of vow initiation, clean composition suited to instructional content.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly-legal setting with a learned jurist, penitent in simple dress, symbolic items (gold ornament, wine vessel) set aside, fine architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रुक्मस्तेयी = रुक्म-स्तेयी; सुरापश् = सुरापः; गुरुतल्पगः = गुरु-तल्प-गः; कृच्छ्रञ्चाब्दं = कृच्छ्रम् च अब्दम्; चरेन्नरः = चरेत् नरः (त् + न → न्न)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (mahāpātaka/prāyaścitta sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta: undertaking the Kṛcchra austerity for one year as expiation connected with grave transgressions such as theft and drinking surā.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions like a dharma manual by cataloging legal-ritual remedies (penances) for defined offenses, integrating ethics, social order, and ritual purification into its wide-ranging knowledge system.
It frames severe misconduct as producing heavy karmic impurity and teaches that disciplined austerity (Kṛcchra) is a means of self-purification and restoration of dharmic standing.