Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 33
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
भ्रूणघ्नावेक्षित्तं चैव सस्पृष्टं वाप्युदक्यया काकाद्यैर् अवलीढं च शुनासंस्पृष्टमेव च
bhrūṇaghnāvekṣittaṃ caiva saspṛṣṭaṃ vāpyudakyayā kākādyair avalīḍhaṃ ca śunāsaṃspṛṣṭameva ca
Ang pagkain (o handog na inihanda) na natanaw ng pumatay ng sanggol sa sinapupunan, o nahawakan ng babaeng may regla, o dinilaan ng mga uwak at katulad, o kahit nadikit ng aso—ang lahat ng iyon ay dapat ituring na marumi at nadungisan.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Identifying sources of ritual/food defilement to prevent improper consumption and to decide when offerings must be discarded or re-prepared.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Defiling contacts for food/offerings: foetus-slayer, menstruation, crow/dog contact","lookup_keywords":["bhrūṇaghna-dṛṣṭa","udakyā-spṛṣṭa","kāka-avalīḍha","śunā-saṃspṛṣṭa","anna-aśuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Food becomes defiled if seen by a grievous sinner (foetus-slayer), touched by a menstruating woman, licked by crows, or contacted by a dog. Such items are to be treated as impure and avoided in eating/ritual."}
Concept: Ritual purity is sensitive to moral status (pāpa), biological states (rajasvalā), and animal contact; dharma safeguards both yajña-order and social hygiene.
Application: In kitchens and shrāddha/yajña contexts: protect offerings from animals; observe menstrual seclusion rules as per tradition; avoid accepting/using food compromised by socially defined impurity.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śauca-vidhi (Purification rules for impurity/contact)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prepared offering plate is approached by a crow and a dog; a menstruating woman is shown at a distance; a stern figure representing a grievous sinner casts a glance—symbolizing defilement of food.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic narrative: offering plate with rice balls, crow pecking and dog sniffing, a woman in red border garment seated apart (menstrual seclusion), shadowy figure with harsh gaze indicating bhrūṇaghna, stylized animals, flat decorative background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold halo on the offering plate to emphasize sanctity, crow and dog near the plate, separate vignette of a woman seated apart, ornate borders, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic composition: central offering plate, arrows/visual cues showing crow licking and dog contact, side panel showing rajasvalā seated separately, soft shading and fine outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard with offering tray, crow perched on rim, dog at the edge, householders reacting, a separate alcove with a woman seated apart, detailed textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhrūṇaghnā + īkṣitam → bhrūṇaghnāvekṣitam; vā + api → vāpy; kāka-ādyaiḥ (IAST kākādyaiḥ); śunā + saṃspṛṣṭam → śunāsaṃspṛṣṭam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (anna-śuddhi and prāyaścitta)
FAQs
It specifies śauca (ritual purity) criteria for food/offerings: food becomes impure if seen by a grave sinner (bhrūṇaghna), touched by an udakyā (menstruating woman), licked by birds like crows, or contacted by a dog.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma—minute rules for daily conduct, purity, and handling of food/offerings—showing its broad, handbook-like scope.
Treating such food as defiled protects ritual correctness and personal purity; it prevents inadvertent participation in impurity (aśauca) and supports merit (puṇya) by maintaining dharmic discipline.