Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 28
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
अमत्यैव प्रमाप्य स्त्रीं शूद्रहत्याव्रतं चरेत् सर्पादीनां बधे नक्तमनस्थ्नां वायुसंयमः
amatyaiva pramāpya strīṃ śūdrahatyāvrataṃ caret sarpādīnāṃ badhe naktamanasthnāṃ vāyusaṃyamaḥ
اگر نادانستہ طور پر کسی عورت کا قتل ہو جائے تو شودر کے قتل کا کفارہ ادا کرنا چاہیے۔ سانپ وغیرہ کو مارنے پر صرف رات کو کھانا چاہیے اور بغیر ہڈی والے جانداروں کو مارنے پر پرانایام (سانس کی مشق) کرنی چاہیے۔
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Selecting expiation based on intention (unintentional killing of a woman) and on the class of creature killed (serpents; boneless beings), prescribing specific observances (night-eating; prāṇāyāma).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Expiations for accidental killing and for killing serpents/boneless creatures","lookup_keywords":["amathyā","strī-pramāpa","naktam","prāṇāyāma","an-asthna"],"quick_summary":"Accidental killing of a woman is expiated like śūdra-killing; killing serpents requires a night-only meal regimen, while killing boneless creatures is expiated through breath-restraint (prāṇāyāma)."}
Concept: Intention modifies culpability; purification can be achieved through regulated conduct (niyama) and inner discipline (prāṇāyāma).
Application: When harm occurs without intent, adopt structured restraint practices—dietary regulation and breath-discipline—to restore ethical and ritual balance.
Khanda Section: Dharma-prāyaścitta (Expiations for Sin and Ritual Atonement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent performing night-only eating (a small lamp-lit meal) and another figure seated in yogic posture practicing prāṇāyāma; a serpent motif and small aquatic/boneless creatures symbolically shown to indicate the categories.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, lamp-lit nocturnal meal scene with a simple leaf-plate; adjacent yogi in padmāsana with stylized breath-lines; serpent coiled as emblem; muted ochres and deep greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted lamp and utensils; yogi with halo-like aureole; serpent rendered as decorative border element; rich jewel tones, devotional-instructional mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic split-panel composition: left ‘naktam’ meal at night, right prāṇāyāma posture with counted breath marks; fine detailing and soft gradients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night courtyard with oil lamp, figure eating modestly; nearby ascetic practicing breath control; naturalistic serpent near a garden edge; intricate architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अमत्यैव → अमात्या + एव; सर्पादीनाम् → सर्प + आदीनाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (kṛcchra, śāntapana, and graded prāyaścitta rules)
FAQs
It prescribes graded prāyaścitta (atonements): accidental killing of a woman is expiated by the Śūdra-killing observance; killing snakes entails night-only eating; killing boneless creatures requires breath-restraint (prāṇāyāma).
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s dharma-śāstra layer by cataloging specific, case-based penances—linking ethics (hiṃsā), ritual discipline (vrata, nakta-bhojana), and yogic technique (prāṇāyāma) into a practical legal-ritual manual.
The verse frames unintended harm as still karmically weighty and teaches purification through proportional discipline—dietary restriction and breath-control—so the doer reduces sin (pāpa) and restores moral-ritual balance.