Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेच्छक्त्या दद्याद्धेमतिलदिकं मुष्टिचपेटकीलेन तथा शृङ्गादिमोटने
brāhmaṇān bhojayecchaktyā dadyāddhematiladikaṃ muṣṭicapeṭakīlena tathā śṛṅgādimoṭane
Ayon sa kakayahan, dapat pakainin ang mga Brāhmaṇa; at magbigay ng ginto, linga (sesame), at mga katulad—bilang pagtubos sa pinsalang dulot ng kamao, sampal, o pako/pasak, gayundin sa pagkaputol ng sungay at iba pa.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guides expiatory giving (dāna) and feeding (bhojana) as restitution for specific injuries to living beings/cattle, scaled to one’s capacity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dāna-prāyaścitta for bodily injury (fist/slap/peg; horn-breaking)","lookup_keywords":["brāhmaṇa-bhojana","hema-dāna","tila-dāna","muṣṭi-capeta","śṛṅga-bhaṅga"],"quick_summary":"For harms like blows (fist/slap) or injuries by peg/nail and for breaking horns etc., expiation is performed through feeding Brāhmaṇas and gifting gold, sesame, and similar items according to means."}
Concept: Prāyaścitta through dāna and honoring the learned as social-ritual restitution for harm.
Application: When one causes injury, one should not only cease harm but also perform compensatory acts (feeding/gifts) proportionate to capacity.
Khanda Section: Dāna-Dharma (Charity, Expiations, and Ritual Merit)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder arranging a respectful brāhmaṇa-feast and presenting gifts like gold and sesame as expiation for having caused injury (blows, horn-breaking).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette; a dharmic householder in white dhoti offering tila and hiraṇya to seated brāhmaṇas on banana leaves; calm ritual setting, oil-lamp glow, minimal background architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights; central figure offering a small golden vessel and sesame to brāhmaṇas; ornate arch, rich textiles, stylized halos for sanctity, emphasis on dāna objects.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework; instructional tableau showing items labeled (hema, tila) and the act of brāhmaṇa-bhojana; balanced composition, subdued elegance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly interior; donor presenting gold and sesame to learned men seated in a row; delicate patterns, naturalistic faces, marginal floral motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भोजयेच्छक्त्या = भोजयेत् + शक्त्या; दद्याद्धेमतिलादिकम् = दद्यात् + हेमतिलादिकम्; शृङ्गादिमोटने = शृङ्ग-आदि-मोटने (समास/सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana—Dāna-dharma sections on brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dāna varieties; Agni Purana—Prāyaścitta-khaṇḍa on graded penances (kṛcchra, cāndrāyaṇa, śāntapana)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical prāyaścitta: feeding Brāhmaṇas and giving specified dāna (gold, sesame, etc.) as remedial acts for causing injuries (fist/slap/impact) and for damage such as breaking horns.
It documents a dharma-śāstra style micro-rule—linking specific harms to specific expiations—showing the Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into applied ethics, restitution, and ritualized atonement.
It frames harmful acts as generating demerit that can be mitigated through dāna and hospitality, emphasizing purification, restitution, and the restoration of moral order (dharma) according to one’s means.