Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
सुरापाणापनुत्यर्थं बालवामा जटी ध्वजी अज्ञानात् प्राश्य विण्मूत्रं सुरासंस्पृष्टमेव च
surāpāṇāpanutyarthaṃ bālavāmā jaṭī dhvajī ajñānāt prāśya viṇmūtraṃ surāsaṃspṛṣṭameva ca
شراب نوشی کے گناہ کے ازالے کے لیے بالک کی مانند (بال ورتی) ہو کر، بائیں سمت کے قاعدے کے مطابق، جٹا دھار کر اور دھوج (علم) اٹھا کر پرایشچت کرے؛ اور اگر نادانی میں شراب سے آلودہ پاخانہ یا پیشاب کھا لیا ہو تب بھی یہی حکم ہے۔
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in prāyaścitta-vidhi)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Specify an expiatory vow-form (vrata) to remove the sin of liquor-drinking, including ascetic markers (matted hair, banner) and prescribed comportment; extends to accidental ingestion of impure substances contaminated by liquor.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Surāpāna-prāyaścitta Vrata (Bālavrata with Jaṭā and Dhvaja)","lookup_keywords":["surāpāna-prāyaścitta","bālavrata","jaṭā","dhvaja","aśauca"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes a distinctive penitential observance for liquor-drinking, with ascetic insignia and strictness, and clarifies that even inadvertent consumption of impurity tainted by liquor requires expiation."}
Concept: Purity is maintained not only by intention but also by careful avoidance of contaminating contact; when breached, visible austerity restores moral order.
Application: Adopt a clearly defined vow with external signs to enforce accountability and prevent recurrence; treat contamination (saṃsparśa) as ethically consequential.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śauca (Purification rites; expiation for impurity and intoxicants)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: jugupsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent ascetic adopts childlike simplicity, with matted hair and a small banner-staff, moving with prescribed orientation and performing expiation after liquor-related impurity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, austere figure with jaṭā and dhvaja, minimal ornaments, strong outline, subdued tones, emphasis on śuddhi and restraint","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, solitary penitent with jaṭā and banner, gold detailing on the dhvaja finial, solemn posture, sparse background to stress vow","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of vrata insignia: jaṭā hairstyle, dhvaja staff, prescribed conduct; clean composition with explanatory captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, wandering ascetic with banner in a village edge scene, careful narrative detail showing the context of accidental contamination and subsequent penance"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"austere","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुरापाणापनुत्यर्थम् = सुरा-पान-अपनुत्य-अर्थम् (purpose compound). सुरासंस्पृष्टमेव = सुरासंस्पृष्टम् + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: prāyaścitta cluster on surā and śuddhi (same adhyāya)
FAQs
It specifies an expiatory discipline (prāyaścitta) to remove the fault of surā-drinking, extending the rule to cases of accidental ingestion of substances contaminated by liquor.
It exemplifies the text’s dharma-śāstra-like coverage of practical ritual law—detailing purity, contamination, and graded expiations alongside other domains (rituals, polity, medicine, arts).
It frames intoxication-related impurity as a karmically weighty fault and teaches that intentional vs. unintentional acts matter, with prescribed austerity restoring ritual and moral purity.