Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
होमद्रव्ये मूषिकाद्यैर् भक्षिते कीटसंयुते तावन्मात्रं परित्यज्य प्रोक्ष्य देवादि पूजयेत्
homadravye mūṣikādyair bhakṣite kīṭasaṃyute tāvanmātraṃ parityajya prokṣya devādi pūjayet
ஹோமப் பொருட்களை எலிகள் முதலியவை தின்றிருந்தாலோ அல்லது பூச்சிகள் புகுந்திருந்தாலோ, மாசடைந்த அளவு மட்டும் நீக்கி, மீதியைப் புனித நீரால் ப்ரோட்சணம் செய்து, தேவதை முதலியவற்றின் பூஜையை நடத்த வேண்டும்।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the primary Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Quality-control for homa materials: discard only contaminated portion, purify remainder by sprinkling, then continue worship—minimizes waste while maintaining śuddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Handling Contaminated Homa Materials (Rats/Insects)","lookup_keywords":["homa-dravya","mūṣika","kīṭa-saṃyuta","parityāga","prokṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"If homa items are partially eaten or insect-infested, discard only the affected part, sprinkle/purify the rest, and proceed with deity worship and remaining rites."}
Concept: Pragmatic dharma: purity is preserved through proportionate correction (discard the दोष-part only) and purification (prokṣaṇa).
Application: Adopt ‘minimal discard + purification’ as a standard operating procedure for ritual materials.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and ritual purification procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual store-room scene: homa materials in bowls; a rat has nibbled one portion and insects are visible; the priest removes the spoiled part, sprinkles sanctified water over the remainder, and resumes worship at the shrine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, earthy reds and greens, priest discarding a small spoiled portion from a bowl, prokṣaṇa with darbha and water pot, homa-kunda and sanctum in background, stylized rat and insects subtly shown","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented vessels; priest with gold-highlighted kalaśa sprinkling water; small discarded portion aside; deity in shrine framed with gold foil; emphasis on ritual purity tools","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of ‘discard only that much’ with measured portioning, then prokṣaṇa; neat arrangement of dravya bowls and homa ladle; soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of ritual ingredients, tiny rat near a bowl, priest carefully separating contaminated part with a spoon, sprinkling water; architectural niche shrine in background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: होमद्रव्ये = होम-द्रव्ये; मूषिकाद्यैर् = मूषिक-आद्यैः; तावन्मात्रं = तावत्-मात्रम्; देवादि = देव-आदि
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi: prokṣaṇa rules and dravya-śuddhi; Agni Purana homa-vidhi sections on acceptable dravya and handling
FAQs
It gives a practical homa-protocol: if oblation materials are contaminated by rodents or insects, discard only the affected portion, purify the remainder by sprinkling (prokṣaṇa), and continue the worship/rite.
It preserves operational details of ritual procedure—handling contamination, acceptable remediation, and continuity of worship—showing the text’s coverage of minute, practice-oriented rules alongside theology.
It maintains ritual purity without unnecessary waste: removing the doṣa (defect) and restoring śuddhi through prokṣaṇa enables the rite to remain spiritually efficacious and avoids the blemish of offering impure substances.