Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 8

Chapter 171 — प्रायश्चित्तानि

Prāyaścittāni / Expiations

Devanagari script

कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रं पयसा दिवसानेकविंशतिं गोमूत्रं गोमयं क्षीरं दधि सर्पिः कुशोदकं

Transliteration

kṛcchrātikṛcchraṃ payasā divasānekaviṃśatiṃ gomūtraṃ gomayaṃ kṣīraṃ dadhi sarpiḥ kuśodakaṃ

Translation

‘அதிக்ருச்சிரம்’ இருபத்தொரு நாட்கள் பால் கொண்டு செய்யப்பட வேண்டும்; இதில் கோமூத்திரம், கோமயம், பால், தயிர், நெய், குசநீர் (குசோதகம்) ஆகியவை விதியாகும்.

Word by Word

• कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रम्: the ‘very severe’ kṛcchra (penance)
• कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र + अति + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/उपपद-समास (अतिकृच्छ्रं कृच्छ्रम्)

• पयसा: with milk
• पयसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दिवसान्: days
• दिवसान्: कर्म (Measure/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• एकविंशतिम्: twenty-one
• एकविंशतिम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकविंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु (एकं विंशतिः—21) used as numeral

• गोमूत्रम्: cow’s urine
• गोमूत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गोः मूत्रम्)

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गोः मयम्)

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्पिः: ghee/clarified butter
• सर्पिः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुशोदकम्: kuśa-infused water
• कुशोदकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कुशैः/कुशस्य उदकम्—water with kuśa grass)

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Performing the Atikṛcchra expiation with a specified 21-day milk-based regimen and pañcagavya-related purificants including kuśodaka.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Atikṛcchra regimen — 21 days and pañcagavya/kuśodaka items","lookup_keywords":["atikṛcchra","21 days milk","pañcagavya","kuśodaka","śuddhi regimen"],"quick_summary":"Atikṛcchra is defined as a 21-day observance centered on milk, employing cow-urine, cow-dung, milk, curd, ghee, and kuśa-infused water as purificatory substances."}

Ayurveda Layer

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śuddhi in prāyaścitta is operationalized through time (21 days) and sanctioned substances (pañcagavya + kuśa), linking bodily regimen with moral-ritual restoration.

Application: Follow tradition-specific purity protocols precisely when undertaking expiation; distinguish ritual purity aims from medical therapy aims.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Prayashchitta (Expiatory Rites) / Shuddhi-vidhi (Purificatory Observances)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A 21-day vow scene: an ascetic with vessels labeled milk, curd, ghee, cow-urine, cow-dung, and a kuśa-grass bundle steeped in water, arranged as a ritual regimen.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual layout with six vessels and kuśa grass, ascetic seated beside them, temple courtyard feel, muted sacred palette, emphasis on śuddhi items","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, neatly arranged pañcagavya vessels with ornate gold detailing, kuśa bundle prominent, devotee in prayerful posture, rich borders and lamp glow","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic presentation of the regimen items with clear separation and labels, ascetic demonstrating preparation of kuśodaka, soft colors and instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of small bowls and jars for milk/curd/ghee etc., kuśa grass tied with thread, ascetic recording days on a folio, fine brushwork"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: दिवसानेकविंशतिं→दिवसान्+एकविंशतिम्.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 171 (kṛcchra/atikṛcchra/śāntapana descriptions)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Kṛcchra
• Atikṛcchra
• Gomūtra
• Gomaya
• Kṣīra
• Dadhi
• Sarpiḥ
• Kuśa

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It prescribes the Atikṛcchra expiation: a 21-day purificatory regimen centered on milk and the canonical purifiers—cow’s urine, cow-dung, milk, curd, ghee, and kuśa-water.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana catalogs applied dharma: concrete, time-bound expiations (prāyaścitta) with specified substances and duration, functioning like a procedural manual for ritual and ethical repair.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Atikṛcchra is intended to cleanse ritual impurity and mitigate the karmic residue of transgressions through disciplined austerity and sanctifying substances, restoring eligibility for religious duties.