Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 43
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानां ताम्रस्य रजतस्य च अयस्कांस्योपलानाञ्च द्वादशाहं कणान्नभुक्
maṇimuktāpravālānāṃ tāmrasya rajatasya ca ayaskāṃsyopalānāñca dvādaśāhaṃ kaṇānnabhuk
మణులు, ముత్యాలు, ప్రవాళాలు, తామ్రం, వెండి, ఇనుము, కాంస్యం మరియు రాళ్లు—ఇవాటికి (ప్రాయశ్చిత్తంగా) పన్నెండు రోజులు ‘కణాన్న’ అనే సరళ ధాన్యాహారం మాత్రమే తీసుకోవాలి.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Determining a short-term dietary expiation for theft/defilement involving valuables and metals; implementing a 12-day regulated diet.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvādaśāha-kaṇānna prāyaścitta for gems and metals","lookup_keywords":["maṇi","muktā","pravāla","tāmra-rajata","kaṇānna"],"quick_summary":"For offenses involving gems, pearls, coral, and various metals/stones, a twelve-day expiation is prescribed: subsistence on kaṇānna (simple grain fare)."}
Concept: Measured penance calibrated to the category of property/valuable involved.
Application: Apply time-bound dietary vows (12 days) as corrective practice for specific material transgressions.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Vrata-vidhi (Expiations and Vowed Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder-penitent counts twelve days, eating only a small bowl of plain grains, while valuables (gems/metals) are shown as the cause of expiation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior-āśrama setting, penitent with simple grain meal in leaf-bowl, symbolic display of maṇi/muktā/pravāla, calm restrained palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, penitent before a small altar, plain grain offering bowl, gold-work highlighting pearls/coral as symbolic motifs, devotional austerity tone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional panel: twelve-day calendar motif, kaṇānna bowl, labeled items (tāmra, rajata, ayas), neat didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic scene with meticulous objects—pearls, coral, copper/silver vessels—while the penitent eats plain grains, fine textile and utensil detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानां = मणि-मुक्ता-प्रवालानाम्; अयस्कांस्योपलानाञ्च = अयस्-कांस्य-उपलानाम् च; द्वादशाहं = द्वादश-अहम् (अव्ययीभाव); कणान्नभुक् = कण-अन्न-भुक्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (graded expiations by object stolen/defiled)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta: a twelve-day regulated diet (kaṇānna-bhuk) as expiation connected with valuables such as gems, pearls, corals, and metals like copper, silver, iron, and bell-metal.
It exemplifies the Purana’s dharma-śāstra-like coverage by cataloging practical expiations for different classes of objects (precious items, metals, stones) and pairing them with standardized vow-diets and time-periods.
The twelve-day austerity functions as ritual purification, intended to reduce the karmic burden of wrongdoing involving valuable materials by disciplined restraint and prescribed observance.