Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 29
Chapter 168 — महापातकादिकथनम्
Exposition of Great Sins and Related Topics
गोबधो ऽयाज्य संयाज्यं पारदार्यात्मविक्रियः गुरुमातृपितृत्यागः स्वाध्ययाग्न्योः सुतस्य च
gobadho 'yājya saṃyājyaṃ pāradāryātmavikriyaḥ gurumātṛpitṛtyāgaḥ svādhyayāgnyoḥ sutasya ca
گائے کا قتل؛ نااہل شخص کے لیے یَجْن کرانا یا اس میں شریک ہونا؛ پرستری سے تعلق؛ آتم وِکریہ (اپنے آپ کو بیچ دینا)؛ گرو، ماں یا باپ کو چھوڑ دینا؛ اور سوادھیائے، مقدس آگوں اور بیٹے کی غفلت—یہ سب مذموم اعمال ہیں۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Prāyaścitta","practical_application":"Checklist of censured acts used for self-audit, community discipline, and determining expiations (including major sins involving violence, ritual corruption, sexual misconduct, and neglect of duties).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nindita-karmāṇi: cow-killing, ritual impropriety, adultery, abandonment of duties","lookup_keywords":["gobadha","ayājya","saṃyājya","paradāra","svādhyāya-agni"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates grave censured acts spanning violence (cow-killing), ritual transgression (serving the unfit), sexual wrongdoing, self-sale, abandonment of parents/teacher, and neglect of svādhyāya, sacred fires, and one’s son."}
Concept: Dharma is upheld by non-violence toward sacred life (cow), purity of yajña, sexual fidelity, non-commodification of the self, and steadfastness in guru/parental duties, svādhyāya, agnihotra, and progeny-care.
Application: Maintain ritual eligibility checks, avoid corrupt priestly service, preserve household fires and study, and treat family obligations as religious duties.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations and prohibited acts)
Primary Rasa: bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: bībhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau showing symbolic vignettes: a protected cow with a prohibition sign; a yajña where an unfit patron is refused; a household scene emphasizing fidelity; a student tending sacred fires and studying; elders (guru, mother, father) honored—contrasted with the censured neglect.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative panels around a central ācārya: cow protected, yajña with proper eligibility, brahmacārin tending agni, family honoring parents; bold outlines, ritual objects (kuśa, ladles), admonitory tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central dharma-teacher with gold halo; surrounding medallions: cow, yajña-vedi, agni-kuṇḍa, svādhyāya palm-leaves, parents seated; rich gold ornamentation, moral iconography.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like composition with labeled scenes (gobadha/ayājya/paradāra/svādhyāya-agni); delicate colors, clarity of ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined domestic and courtly scenes: priest declining an improper patron, scholar with manuscript, family honoring elders; fine architectural detail, subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gobadho → go-badhaḥ; 'yājya → a-yājyaḥ (elision after avagraha); saṃyājyaṃ → saṃ-yājyam; pāradāryātmavikriyaḥ → pāra-dārya-ātma-vikriyaḥ; gurumātṛpitṛtyāgaḥ → guru-mātṛ-pitṛ-tyāgaḥ; svādhyayāgnyoḥ → svādhyaya-agnyoḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 168 (lists of nindita/mahāpātaka acts; prāyaścitta framing)
FAQs
It defines ritually and ethically prohibited actions in Dharma/Prāyaścitta terms—especially the technical yajña categories ayājya (unqualified patron) and saṃyājya (participating/officiating with such a person), along with duties like svādhyāya and agni-maintenance.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves Dharma-shāstra material: classifications of sins, social-ritual disqualifications, and household obligations—functioning like a compendium of religious law and practice.
The verse highlights actions that damage ritual eligibility and moral standing; avoiding them protects one’s dharma, sustains household sanctity (svādhyāya and sacred fires), and prevents heavy negative karma associated with violence, sexual misconduct, and abandonment of dependents and elders.