Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 20
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
हत्वा त्र्यहं पिवेत् क्षीरं कृच्छ्रं चान्द्रायणं चरेत् व्रतं रहस्ये रहसि प्रकाशे ऽपि प्रकाशकं
hatvā tryahaṃ pivet kṣīraṃ kṛcchraṃ cāndrāyaṇaṃ caret vrataṃ rahasye rahasi prakāśe 'pi prakāśakaṃ
Pagkatapos makapatay (ng tao), uminom ng gatas sa loob ng tatlong araw; at isagawa ang panatang Kṛcchra at ang pagtalima sa Cāndrāyaṇa—isang panatang pagtubos na nagpapadalisay sa mga lihim na pagkukulang sa lihim, at maging sa mga pagkakasalang hayag sa madla.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, the usual frame of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Outlines a sequence of expiations for homicide—milk-drinking for three days, then Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa—framing prāyaścitta as purification of both hidden and public transgressions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homicide prāyaścitta: three-day milk, Kṛcchra, and Cāndrāyaṇa; purification of secret and public faults","lookup_keywords":["hatvā","kṣīra-pāna","kṛcchra","cāndrāyaṇa","rahasya-doṣa"],"quick_summary":"For the grave sin of killing, the text prescribes an initial three-day milk regimen followed by Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa observances, emphasizing that the vow purifies both concealed and openly known faults."}
Concept: Prāyaścitta as inner purification: disciplined austerity addresses both private guilt (rahasya) and public transgression (prakāśa).
Application: Adopt structured vows (dietary restraint + kṛcchra/cāndrāyaṇa) as a transformative discipline aimed at moral repair and self-regulation.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta (Expiations and Vows / Dharma-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent undertaking homicide expiation: drinking milk for three days, then performing Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa under a guru’s guidance; the theme of purifying hidden and public faults is emphasized.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; penitent seated near a simple altar, holding a milk vessel; guru with palm-leaf manuscript instructs; moon phases subtly painted above to indicate Cāndrāyaṇa; solemn lamp-lit ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf; central penitent with a small golden milk pot; guru and sacred fire; gold accents on lunar disc motifs representing Cāndrāyaṇa; ornate arch framing the vow scene.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional; sequence panel showing day-by-day milk regimen, then austerity steps of Kṛcchra, then lunar waxing/waning diet of Cāndrāyaṇa; fine lines and clear labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; quiet hermitage scene with penitent and teacher; a calendar-like moon motif in the margin; detailed vessels and manuscripts; restrained palette conveying gravity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्र्यहं = त्रि + अहम्/अहम् (समास: त्र्यहम्); चान्द्रायणम् = च + आन्द्रायणम् (cāndrāyaṇam); प्रकाशे 'पि = प्रकाशे + अपि
Related Themes: Agni Purana—definitions and rules of Kṛcchra penance; Agni Purana—Cāndrāyaṇa vrata procedure and lunar-day regulation; Agni Purana—sections on mahāpātaka and their expiations
FAQs
It prescribes a specific prāyaścitta sequence: three days of milk-only intake followed by the formal Kṛcchra penance and the Cāndrāyaṇa (lunar-regulated) vow as a ritual method of purification after killing.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied dharma—codified expiations, dietary austerities, and vow-structures—mirroring Dharmaśāstra practice and providing a practical legal-ritual manual within a Purāṇic corpus.
The verse frames regulated austerity (milk-fast, Kṛcchra, and Cāndrāyaṇa) as a purifier of severe karmic fault, emphasizing that atonement addresses both concealed wrongdoing and publicly known sin through disciplined vow-practice.