Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 45
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
अपाङ्क्तेयाशी गव्याशी शुना दष्टस् तथा शुचिः कृमिदष्टश्चात्मघाती कृच्छ्राज्जप्याच्च होमतः
apāṅkteyāśī gavyāśī śunā daṣṭas tathā śuciḥ kṛmidaṣṭaścātmaghātī kṛcchrājjapyācca homataḥ
अपाङ्क्तेयाशी, गव्याशी, शुना दष्टः, तथा अशुच्यभिभूतः; कृमिदष्टश्च, आत्मघाती च—कृच्छ्रेण, जप्येन, होमेन च शुद्ध्यन्ति।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Enumerates grave impurities/offences and prescribes a composite purification pathway: Kṛcchra penance plus japa and homa, applicable to dietary transgressions, animal bites, infestation bites, and even self-slaying (ātmaghāta).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kṛcchra-japa-homa as śuddhi for apāṅkteya, gavyāśana, bites, and ātmaghāta","lookup_keywords":["apāṅkteya","gavyāśana","śunadaṣṭa","kṛmidaṣṭa","kṛcchra-japa-homa"],"quick_summary":"Those disqualified by improper eating (including beef), those bitten by dog or insects/worms, and even one guilty of self-slaying are stated to regain purity through Kṛcchra penance together with japa and homa."}
Concept: Purification can require integrated discipline: bodily austerity (kṛcchra), speech-mind rectification (japa), and sacrificial restitution (homa).
Application: Framework for expiation programs: combine fasting/regulated diet, mantra repetition, and fire-offering as a structured rehabilitation back into ritual/social eligibility.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi (Expiations and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent undertakes Kṛcchra austerity with regulated meals, performs japa with a mālā, and offers homa into a sacred fire; peripheral motifs show the causes—improper food, beef-eating, dog bite, insect bite—treated as triggers for expiation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, central homa-kuṇḍa with priest/penitent seated, mālā in hand, offerings into fire; side panels depict symbolic dog bite and insect bite, and a plate marked as forbidden food; bold outlines, warm reds and yellows.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf: radiant homa fire, penitent with prayer beads, small golden ladle and ghee offerings; ornate frame; peripheral icons of forbidden foods and bite marks rendered symbolically.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout: three-step remedy—kṛcchra (austerity posture and measured food), japa (mālā), homa (fire altar); clean labeling and precise depiction of ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed hermitage courtyard with fire altar, penitent performing offerings, assistant holding samidh and ghee; marginal vignettes of dog and insects; fine detailing and subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अपाङ्क्तेयाशी = अपाङ्क्तेय-आशी; गव्याशी = गव्य-आशी; कृमिदष्टश्चात्मघाती = कृमिदष्टः च आत्मघाती (ः + च → श्च; च + आ → चा); कृच्छ्राज्जप्याच्च = कृच्छ्रात् जप्यात् च (त् + ज → ज्ज; त् + च → च्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170 (Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi section on kṛcchra, japa, homa)
FAQs
It prescribes prāyaścitta methods—Kṛcchra penance, mantra-japa, and homa—as practical means of ritual purification after specific defilements (forbidden eating, animal bite/infestation, and severe transgression).
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s dharma-śāstra-like coverage by cataloging concrete impurity cases and pairing them with standardized remedial rites (penance, recitation, fire-offering), integrating ethics, ritual procedure, and social-religious discipline.
The verse frames purification as achievable through regulated austerity (Kṛcchra), sacred sound (japa), and sacrificial fire (homa), indicating that karmic stain—even from grave lapses—is addressed through prescribed expiatory discipline.