Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 10
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
प्रायश्चित्तं प्रवृत्तस्य बधे स्यात्तु त्रिवार्षिकं ब्रह्मघ्नि क्षत्रे द्विगुणं विट्च्छूद्रे द्विगुणं त्रिधा
prāyaścittaṃ pravṛttasya badhe syāttu trivārṣikaṃ brahmaghni kṣatre dviguṇaṃ viṭcchūdre dviguṇaṃ tridhā
Para sa taong nagsagawa ng pagpatay, ang prāyaścitta ay itinakdang isang pagtalima sa loob ng tatlong taon; sa pagpatay sa Brāhmaṇa, ito’y dinodoble; sa Kṣatriya, dinodoble rin; at sa Vaiśya at Śūdra, dinodoble nang tatlong antas (ibig sabihin, pinararami ayon sa itinakdang baitang).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in Dharma and expiations)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Gives a graded schedule of expiation for homicide/attempted killing, scaling by the victim’s varṇa/status and by the nature of the act (having proceeded to the killing), useful for juridical-religious adjudication.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Graded Homicide Prāyaścitta by Varṇa and Duration","lookup_keywords":["vadha prāyaścitta","trivārṣika","brahma-ghna","kṣatriya-vadha","vaiśya-śūdra-vadha"],"quick_summary":"Penance for killing is time-graded: a baseline three-year observance is stated, then increased by specified multipliers depending on whether the victim is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, or śūdra."}
Concept: Dharma employs graded responsibility and restitution; social-ritual status affects prescribed penance, reflecting the smṛti framework of varṇa-based valuation.
Application: For historical/legal study: illustrates how religious penance schedules functioned alongside governance; for practice, emphasizes proportional accountability and the seriousness of violence.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations and legal-ritual penances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dharma court scene with a chart of penance durations: three-year baseline and multipliers by varṇa; a scribe records, an elder points to the schedule, the accused stands in humility.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, council of elders with palm-leaf chart showing year counts, accused penitent at side, strong outlines, symbolic varṇa markers, solemn palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central dharma-ācārya with gold halo, ornate chart panel with embossed gold numerals for durations, attendants and scribe, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic board showing trivārṣika and multipliers, clean composition, fine detailing of manuscripts and counting beads, calm instructional mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, administrative courtroom with scribes, ledger-like chart of penalties, nuanced faces, architectural depth, documentary precision"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syāttu = syāt + tu; trivārṣikaṃ = tri + vārṣikam; viṭcchūdre = viṭ + śūdre (assimilation ṭ+ś → cch in orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (continuation of homicide-related expiations and their conditions)
FAQs
It gives a Dharma-śāstra style rule for prāyaścitta: a baseline three-year penance for killing, with graded multipliers depending on the varṇa of the person slain.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa includes applied norms of law and ritual—here, a quantified schedule of expiations—showing its coverage of governance, ethics, and ritual jurisprudence.
It frames homicide as a heavy karmic fault requiring sustained purification (multi-year discipline), emphasizing that moral injury demands proportionate atonement to restore ritual and spiritual integrity.