Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 38
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
चण्डालान्त्यस्त्रियो गत्वा भुक्त्वा च प्रतिगृह्य च पतत्यज्ञानतो विप्रो ज्ञानात् साम्यन्तु गच्छति
caṇḍālāntyastriyo gatvā bhuktvā ca pratigṛhya ca patatyajñānato vipro jñānāt sāmyantu gacchati
ਚੰਡਾਲ ਆਦਿ ਅੰਤ੍ਯਜ ਇਸਤਰੀਆਂ ਕੋਲ ਜਾ ਕੇ, ਉੱਥੇ ਭੋਜਨ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਦਾਨ/ਖਾਣਾ ਸਵੀਕਾਰ ਕਰ ਕੇ—ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰੇ ਤਾਂ ਪਤਿਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ; ਜਾਣ ਬੁੱਝ ਕੇ ਕਰੇ ਤਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਮਾਨ ਹਾਲਤ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within a dharma-nirṇaya passage)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Rules of social contact, commensality, and gift-acceptance affecting varṇa-status and ritual standing; distinguishes culpability by knowledge/intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Patana by outcaste-contact: ignorance vs knowledge","lookup_keywords":["caṇḍāla","pratigraha","bhukta","ajñāta","jñāta"],"quick_summary":"Contact with outcaste women and accepting food/gifts from them causes a brāhmaṇa’s fall; ignorance leads to ‘fall’ (patana), while deliberate action leads to full assimilation into that status."}
Concept: Moral-ritual consequence depends on saṅga (association) and cetanā (intent/knowledge).
Application: Exercise discernment in accepting food/gifts and in social proximity; treat deliberate transgression as heavier than inadvertent contact.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Varna-ashauca, food-acceptance rules, social contact and purity)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brāhmaṇa is shown entering an outcaste quarter, eating food offered there and receiving gifts; the verse contrasts inadvertent vs deliberate action through two juxtaposed panels.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split-scene: left panel a brāhmaṇa unknowingly accepts food in an outcaste dwelling; right panel knowingly accepts gifts; expressive faces, symbolic boundary lines, earthy reds and ochres, moral didactic tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style diptych, brāhmaṇa receiving a bowl of food and a gift bundle, gold borders emphasizing ‘pratigraha’, stylized houses indicating outcaste quarter, icon-like moral tableau.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional storyboard with captions: ‘ajñānataḥ’ vs ‘jñānāt’, fine detailing of food, gift, and threshold crossing, calm didactic palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, street scene with distinct neighborhood architecture, a brāhmaṇa dining and receiving a wrapped gift, onlookers reacting, nuanced facial expressions to show intent, documentary realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caṇḍāla+antya+striyaḥ→caṇḍālāntyastriyo; patati+ajñānataḥ→patatyajñānato; sāmyaṃ+tu→sāmyantu
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (varṇa-āśauca and pratigraha rules)
FAQs
It specifies a dharma-vidhi about anna-pratigraha (accepting food/gifts) and bhojana (eating) in contexts deemed ritually/socially improper, distinguishing consequences based on ignorance versus deliberate intent.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma norms—purity, conduct, and social regulations—functioning like a digest of dharma-shastra guidance embedded within a Purana.
It frames transgression as producing karmic and status consequences: unintentional violation leads to a 'fall,' while intentional violation is treated as identity with the prohibited condition, emphasizing the moral weight of intention (saṅkalpa).