Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 39
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
मधु मांसञ्च यो ऽश्नीयाच्छावं सूतकमेव वा प्राजापत्यं चरेत् कृच्छ्रं ब्रह्मचारी यतिर्व्रती
madhu māṃsañca yo 'śnīyācchāvaṃ sūtakameva vā prājāpatyaṃ caret kṛcchraṃ brahmacārī yatirvratī
Sinumang kumain ng pulot at karne, o kumain sa panahon ng karumihan dahil sa kamatayan (śāva) o panganganak (sūtaka), ay dapat magsagawa ng Prājāpatya kṛcchra na pag-alis-sala—namumuhay bilang brahmacārī (selibato), bilang asceta, at tagapag-ingat ng mga panata.
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prescribing Prājāpatya-kṛcchra for consuming honey/meat or eating during death/birth impurity, with emphasis on brahmacarya and vow-like ascetic conduct during expiation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prājāpatya-kṛcchra for Madhu–Māṃsa and Aśauca-bhojana","lookup_keywords":["prājāpatya kṛcchra","madhu","māṃsa","śāva aśauca","sūtaka"],"quick_summary":"Eating honey/meat or eating during death/birth impurity is expiated by the Prājāpatya kṛcchra, undertaken with celibacy and disciplined vow-observance."}
Concept: Aśauca observance and tapas as social-ritual ethics; self-control (brahmacarya) is integral to expiation.
Application: During expiation, adopt disciplined conduct (celibacy, restraint, vow-keeping) as part of the corrective practice, not merely dietary restriction.
Khanda Section: Dharma-prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Atonements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent refrains from sensuality and adopts ascetic discipline while performing Prājāpatya-kṛcchra after eating during aśauca; symbols of death/birth impurity appear in the background as a closed household shrine and mourning/birth chamber motifs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic-like householder with staff and water pot, subdued tones, background hints of a mourning household (white cloth, closed doorway), emphasis on restraint posture","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, vow-taking figure with sacred thread prominent, gold leaf on ritual vessels, minimal food depiction, solemn devotional ambience","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic depiction of 'aśauca' context and 'prājāpatya kṛcchra' observance, neat composition with labels and ritual cleanliness cues","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative interior: family in mourning/birth chamber separated from the penitent in a quiet courtyard practicing austerity, fine textile and architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: māṃsam + ca → māṃsañca; yaḥ + aśnīyāt → yo 'śnīyāt; aśnīyāt + śāvam → aśnīyācchāvam; yatiḥ + vratī → yatirvratī.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (kṛcchra taxonomy and aśauca-related rules)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific expiatory procedure—Prājāpatya kṛcchra—for transgressions involving forbidden/impure eating (honey, meat, or eating during death/birth impurity), to be undertaken with ascetic discipline (brahmacarya and vows).
By cataloging concrete dharma-legal remedies (prāyaścitta) for defined ritual faults, it functions like a practical handbook of purity law alongside the Purana’s many other domains (ritual, polity, arts, and sciences).
The penance is meant to neutralize the demerit (pāpa) incurred by impurity-related consumption and restore ritual fitness (śuddhi/adhikāra) through regulated austerity, continence, and vow-based self-restraint.