Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 29
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
कुष्माण्डघृतहोमेन सर्वान् पापान् व्यपोहति शक्तुयावकभैक्षाशी नक्तं मनुजसत्तम
kuṣmāṇḍaghṛtahomena sarvān pāpān vyapohati śaktuyāvakabhaikṣāśī naktaṃ manujasattama
କୁଷ୍ମାଣ୍ଡ (କୁମ୍ହଡ଼ା) ସହ ଘୃତହୋମ କଲେ ସମସ୍ତ ପାପ ଦୂର ହୁଏ। ହେ ମନୁଜସତ୍ତମ! ସାଧକ ଶକ୍ତୁ, ଯାବକ ଓ ଭୈକ୍ଷାନ୍ନରେ ନିର୍ବାହ କରି, କେବଳ ରାତିରେ ଭୋଜନ କରୁ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha / the listener addressed as ‘best of men’)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Expiatory regimen: perform kuṣmāṇḍa-ghṛta-homa for pāpa-kṣaya, accompanied by dietary restraint—simple foods and night-only eating—to support purification and vow-discipline.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kuṣmāṇḍa-ghṛta-homa with niyama of śaktu–yāvaka–bhaikṣa and nakta-bhojana","lookup_keywords":["kuṣmāṇḍa homa","ghṛta āhuti","prāyaścitta","nakta-bhojana","śaktu yāvaka bhaikṣa"],"quick_summary":"A specific expiation is given: ghee oblations with kuṣmāṇḍa remove sins, and the practitioner maintains a purificatory diet of simple fare, taking food only at night."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Prāyaścitta integrates ritual act (homa) with ethical-ascetic regulation (niyama of diet) to reorient conduct and mind.
Application: Pair expiatory rites with measurable lifestyle constraints (food timing and simplicity) to reinforce accountability and self-control.
Khanda Section: Prayashchitta & Vrata-vidhi (Expiatory rites and purificatory observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner performs homa offering ghee mixed with pieces/pulp of kuṣmāṇḍa; nearby are simple foods—śaktu and yāvaka—while the practitioner eats only at night, emphasizing austerity and purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: homa altar with kuṣmāṇḍa and ghṛta vessels, ascetic figure with restrained posture, night sky motif indicating nakta-bhojana; earthy palette and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central homa with gold-highlighted flames; kuṣmāṇḍa fruit and ghee pot rendered richly; devotee in simple attire; decorative border with subtle night symbolism (moon).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional still-life of ritual items (kuṣmāṇḍa, ghṛta, ladle, kuṇḍa) plus simple diet bowls labeled śaktu/yāvaka; soft shading and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: evening courtyard scene with moonlight; homa in progress; attendant brings modest bowls of gruel; detailed utensils and textiles; calm, disciplined mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुष्माण्डघृतहोमेन = कुष्माण्ड-घृत-होमेन; भैक्षाशी = भैक्ष + आशी; मनुजसत्तम = मनुज + सत्तम.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 259 (Prāyaścitta & Vrata-vidhi context); Agni Purana vrata/niyama discussions (elsewhere in the text)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta: performing a kuṣmāṇḍa–ghṛta homa, combined with a restrained regimen (alms-based simple foods and nakta—eating only at night) for purification.
It exemplifies the text’s practical catalog of applied dharma—detailing not only ritual procedure (homa-dravya selection) but also allied austerities (dietary rules), integrating rite and lifestyle as a complete expiatory system.
The verse frames the homa and disciplined intake as a means of pāpa-kṣaya (karmic demerit reduction), where fire-offering and self-restraint jointly function as purification and moral re-alignment.