Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
वेणुचर्मामिषाणाञ्चेति झ यत् करोत्येकरात्रेण वृषलीसेवनं द्विजः तद्भैक्ष्यभुक् जपेन्नित्यं त्रिभिर्वषैर् व्यपोहति
veṇucarmāmiṣāṇāñceti jha yat karotyekarātreṇa vṛṣalīsevanaṃ dvijaḥ tadbhaikṣyabhuk japennityaṃ tribhirvaṣair vyapohati
دویج ایک ہی رات میں شودرا عورت کی صحبت سے جو گناہ کرتا ہے—جو بانس، چمڑے اور گوشت سے متعلق ناپاک پیشوں کے مانند ہے—وہ بھیک پر گزارہ کر کے اور روزانہ جپ کرتے ہوئے تین برس میں اسے دور کر دیتا ہے۔
Lord Agni (narrating dharma and prāyaścitta instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prescribes a long-term expiation regimen (bhikṣā-based living and daily japa) for a dvija’s single-night transgression of consorting with a śūdra-woman, framed alongside other ‘impure’ dealings (bamboo, hides, meat).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Three-year expiation for vṛṣalī-sevana: bhikṣā and nitya-japa","lookup_keywords":["vṛṣalī-sevana","bhaiṣya-bhuk","japa","trivarṣa","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"A dvija’s sin from a single night of consorting with a śūdra-woman is removed by living on alms and performing daily recitation; the expiation completes in three years."}
Concept: Sustained self-restraint (bhikṣā-vṛtti) and mantra-recitation (nitya-japa) function as transformative penance over time.
Application: Adopt a regulated livelihood (alms-only), daily japa discipline, and long-duration commitment (three years) as a structured corrective path.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Atonements)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija ascetic-like figure with a begging bowl goes door to door for alms; later he sits daily in japa with a rosary. A subtle timeline motif indicates ‘three years’ of disciplined expiation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-register composition: upper register bhikṣā round with begging bowl; lower register seated japa on kusa mat; muted palette, strong outlines, emphasis on austerity and time.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, dvija with begging bowl and rosary, gold-work halo-like border around the discipline theme, stylized houses for alms-giving, solemn devotional austerity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional sequence panels: (1) bhikṣā-bhuk lifestyle, (2) nitya-japa posture and mala, (3) ‘3 years’ indicated by three marked segments; fine linework and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, street and courtyard scenes with realistic architecture; dvija receiving small alms portions, then seated in quiet japa; detailed textiles, subdued moral narrative tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: veṇu+carmāmiṣāṇām→veṇucarmāmiṣāṇām (dvandva compaction); karoti+eka-rātreṇa→karotyekarātreṇa; tat+bhaikṣya-bhuk→tadbhaikṣyabhuk; japet+nityam→jape(n)nityaṃ; tribhiḥ+vaṣaiḥ→tribhirvaṣair
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (prāyaścitta for sexual transgressions; japa-based expiations)
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta: subsisting on alms (bhaikṣā) and performing daily japa for three years to expiate the sin arising from vṛṣalī-sevana committed even in a single night.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also functions as a dharma compendium, preserving detailed legal-ethical norms and expiatory procedures (prāyaścitta) comparable to Dharmaśāstra literature.
It frames serious moral transgression as karmically removable through disciplined austerity—humble livelihood on alms and sustained mantra-recitation—culminating in purification over a defined term (three years).