Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
अवकीर्णी तु कालेन गर्धभेन चतुष्पथे पाकयज्ञविधानेन यजेत निरृतिं निशि
avakīrṇī tu kālena gardhabhena catuṣpathe pākayajñavidhānena yajeta nirṛtiṃ niśi
Mas a avakīrṇī (mulher que transgrediu a castidade) deve, no tempo prescrito, numa encruzilhada, à noite, oferecer a Nirṛti segundo o procedimento de pākayajña, usando um jumento como animal/meio ritual.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Specific expiatory śānti rite for avakīrṇī involving a night offering to Nirṛti at a crossroads using pākayajña procedure and a donkey-associated rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Avakīrṇī expiation: night pākayajña to Nirṛti at the crossroads with donkey rite","lookup_keywords":["avakirni","Nirrti","catuspatha","pakayajna","gardabha"],"quick_summary":"For the avakīrṇī, an expiatory offering is prescribed at night at a crossroads to Nirṛti, performed according to pākayajña procedure, employing a donkey as the ritual animal/means—aimed at pacifying inauspiciousness and restoring purity."}
Concept: Ritual remediation of social/ritual disorder through targeted śānti to a deity of misfortune; place-time-deity specificity in expiation.
Application: Ritual specialists apply precise locus (crossroads), time (night), and deity (Nirṛti) to neutralize perceived inauspiciousness and reintegrate the offender.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śānti-vidhi (Expiatory rites within Smārta/Pākayajña ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At night at a crossroads, a ritualist performs a small fire-offering to Nirṛti; a donkey stands nearby as part of the rite; the atmosphere is solemn and apotropaic.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, nocturnal crossroads with stylized flames, dark-toned Nirṛti presence implied, priest performing pākayajña, donkey in profile, strong contrasts and ritual geometry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, dramatic night scene with gold-highlighted fire and ritual vessels, Nirṛti icon as dark deity panel, donkey rendered with ornate harness, heavy border work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear procedural depiction: crossroads marker, small homa-kunda, offerings laid out, priest’s gestures, donkey positioned as specified, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, moonlit crossroads with fine architectural cues, small homa fire, priest and attendants, donkey detailed naturalistically, subdued palette with luminous highlights"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाकयज्ञविधानेन = पाक-यज्ञ-विधानेन (समास); निरृतिं निशि (सन्धि नहीं)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (avakīrṇa/avakīrṇī expiation rules; pākayajña context)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific expiatory pākayajña offering to Nirṛti, to be done at night at a crossroads, employing a donkey in the rite, for the case of an avakīrṇī.
It catalogs a highly specific prāyaścitta scenario—linking place (crossroads), time (night), deity (Nirṛti), and ritual class (pākayajña)—showing the text’s coverage of practical dharma, impurity-removal, and śānti procedures alongside its many other disciplines.
By directing the rite to Nirṛti—associated with misfortune and moral/ritual ruin—the act aims to transfer and pacify inauspiciousness, reduce karmic fault from transgression, and restore ritual and social purity.