Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 23
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
त्रैवर्णस्य निषिद्धानि पीत्वा तप्त्वाप्यपः शुचिः कणान् वा भक्षयेदब्दं पिण्याकं वा सकृन्निशि
traivarṇasya niṣiddhāni pītvā taptvāpyapaḥ śuciḥ kaṇān vā bhakṣayedabdaṃ piṇyākaṃ vā sakṛnniśi
Kung ang kasapi ng tatlong uri ng mga dalawang-ulit-na-isinilang (trai-varṇa) ay uminom ng ipinagbabawal, kung gayon—pagkatapos uminom ng pinainit na tubig—siya’y nagiging dalisay. O kaya’y kumain lamang ng mga butil sa loob ng isang taon; o di kaya’y kumain ng oil-cake nang minsan sa gabi.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prescribe expiations for twice-born persons who consumed prohibited drinks: immediate purification by drinking heated water, or longer dietary penances (grain-only for a year, or oil-cake once nightly).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for Prohibited Drinking (Taptodaka, Kāṇa-bhakṣaṇa, Piṇyāka-niśāhāra)","lookup_keywords":["prāyaścitta","surāpāna","taptodaka","kāṇa-bhakṣaṇa","piṇyāka"],"quick_summary":"For prohibited consumption by the three twice-born varṇas, purification is achieved either by drinking heated water or by specified austerities—grain-only for a year or oil-cake once at night—indicating graded penance options."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Transgression is met with proportionate self-restraint and purification to restore social-ritual fitness.
Application: Adopt graded penance: immediate corrective acts plus sustained dietary discipline to rebuild self-control and eligibility for rites.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi-vidhi (Expiations and Purificatory Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent twice-born person performs purification: drinking heated water from a ladle, then living austerely with measured grain portions or a small oil-cake at night under a vow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic figure with simple cloth, holding a steaming water vessel, sparse hut background, emphasis on śauca and restraint, muted palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, penitent seated before a small fire-heated pot, gold-highlighted vessel, minimal setting, solemn devotional austerity mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, sequential instructional panels: (1) heating water, (2) drinking taptodaka, (3) grain-only regimen, (4) night oil-cake; fine outlines and captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with brazier and copper pot, penitent receiving hot water, calendar-like depiction of long vow regimen"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"penitential","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तप्त्वाप्यपः = तप्त्वा + अपि + अपः. भक्षयेदब्दम् = भक्षयेत् + अब्दम् (त् + अ → द् + अ by sandhi in recitation/orthography). सकृन्निशि = सकृत् + निशि (त् + न → न्न्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: adjacent prāyaścitta verses on surā and śuddhi (173.24–173.25)
FAQs
It prescribes specific prāyaścitta options for a traivarṇa person who has consumed prohibited drinks: purification via heated water, or regulated subsistence on grains for a year, or a minimal night-only intake of piṇyāka.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana compiles dharma-style procedural guidance—here, concrete expiatory regimens and food rules—showing its coverage of law/ethics, ritual purity, and practical conduct.
The instruction frames purification as karmic rectification: disciplined austerity and regulated diet function as expiation, restoring ritual eligibility and reducing the demerit from consuming forbidden substances.