Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
पादं पादन्तु हत्यायाश् चरेयुस्ते पृथक् पृथक् उपकारे क्रियमाणे विपत्तौ नास्ति पातकं
pādaṃ pādantu hatyāyāś careyuste pṛthak pṛthak upakāre kriyamāṇe vipattau nāsti pātakaṃ
వారు ప్రతివ్యక్తి వేరువేరుగా హత్యా-ప్రాయశ్చిత్తంలో నాలుగో వంతు చొప్పున ఆచరించాలి. విపత్తులో ఉపకారార్థం చేసిన కార్యంలో పాపం ఉండదు।
Lord Agni (in dialogue to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard frame of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Apportioning legal/ritual liability among multiple agents; principle of no-fault when acting as rescue/help in calamity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Shared expiation and the ‘no-sin in helpful intervention’ principle","lookup_keywords":["prayashchitta apportionment","homicide expiation quarter","upakara","vipatti","no sin"],"quick_summary":"When many are involved in a killing, each undertakes a proportional share of the homicide expiation; but if the act was a helpful intervention during a calamity, it is not counted as sin."}
Concept: Intention and context (help during calamity) modulate moral culpability; proportional responsibility in collective acts.
Application: Judges/elders allocate expiation fairly; rescuers acting in emergencies are protected from moral/legal blame when intent is beneficent.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dharmashastra (Prayashchitta / Expiations and Legal Atonements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A council of elders/judge dividing expiatory duties among several persons; a separate scene of people rescuing during a disaster, emphasizing ‘no sin’ in aid.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dharma-sabhā with seated elders, palm-leaf records, figures assigned ‘one-quarter’ portions symbolically, adjacent vignette of flood/fire rescue, bold flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal court setting with gold detailing, judge indicating proportional shares, attendants holding tablets, second panel showing rescue in calamity, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: left—apportionment of penance; right—emergency aid with caption-like labels, fine lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly adjudication with meticulous textiles, then a disaster-relief vignette (collapsed house/fire), rescuers carrying victims, expressive realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हत्यायाश् = हत्यायाः (विसर्गः शकारे); चरेयुस्ते = चरेयुः ते (ः + त → स्त); नास्ति = न अस्ति (अ + अ → आ)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (prayāścitta gradations and exceptions)
FAQs
It gives a dharma-legal rule for prāyaścitta: when multiple persons share responsibility for a killing, each undertakes one-quarter of the homicide expiation; it also states an exception that helpful action during a calamity does not generate pātaka.
Beyond theology, it preserves Dharmaśāstra-style jurisprudence—allocating expiation proportionally and defining emergency exceptions—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of governance, ethics, and legal-ritual norms.
It frames karma with intention and context: culpability can be apportioned among agents, and compassionate aid in crisis is treated as non-sinful, emphasizing dharma as protective and life-supporting.