Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 43
Chapter 226 — राजधर्माः
Rājadharma: Royal Duties and Daṇḍanīti
ज्यायसा दूषिता नारी मुण्डनं समवाप्नुयात् वैश्यागमे तु विप्रस्य क्षत्रियस्यान्त्यजागमे
jyāyasā dūṣitā nārī muṇḍanaṃ samavāpnuyāt vaiśyāgame tu viprasya kṣatriyasyāntyajāgame
Người nữ bị ô uế do giao hợp với người nam thuộc đẳng cấp cao hơn thì phải chịu lễ cạo đầu như một dấu hiệu sám hối. Cũng vậy, nếu một Bà-la-môn giao hợp với nữ Vaiśya, và nếu một Sát-đế-lỵ giao hợp với nữ Antyajā (ngoại giai cấp), thì đều được quy định phải cạo đầu.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dharma/prāyaścitta section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for prāyaścitta (expiation) and śuddhi (ritual/social purification) in cases of prohibited/irregular sexual relations across varṇa boundaries, specifying an outward marker (mundana) as penance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mundana-prāyaścitta for varṇa-saṅkara intercourse","lookup_keywords":["prāyaścitta","mundana","varṇa-saṅkara","strī-doṣa","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"For certain transgressive sexual unions, head-shaving is prescribed as an expiatory and purificatory act. The verse lists representative cross-varṇa cases where mundana is mandated."}
Concept: Dharma maintains social-ritual order through graded expiations; transgression requires visible and procedural correction (prāyaścitta) to restore eligibility and trust.
Application: In traditional adjudication/ācāra contexts, apply proportionate penance and reintegration steps rather than private concealment; emphasize accountability and restoration of śuddhi-status.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Prāyaścitta & Śuddhi: expiations and purification rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual expiation scene: a woman undergoing mundana (head-shaving) under the supervision of elders/priestly figures, with purification implements (water pot, kuśa grass) indicating śuddhi rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, stylized figures: a prāyaścitta rite with a seated woman receiving mundana by an attendant, a brāhmaṇa holding kamaṇḍalu and kuśa, minimal background, sacred austerity mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold work: central figure seated for mundana, ornate but restrained halo-like arch motif, attendants with ritual vessels, gold highlights on textiles and vessels, devotional-ritual ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework: instructional depiction of mundana as expiation, labeled ritual items (kamaṇḍalu, kuśa, pātra), calm courtly interior, emphasis on procedure.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a small court-legal setting where elders prescribe expiation; a barber performs mundana; detailed textiles, subdued palette, documentary realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vaiśyāgame = vaiśya-āgame; kṣatriyasyāntyajāgame = kṣatriyasya antyaja-āgame.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (Prāyaścitta/Śuddhi rules); Agni Purana sections on rājadharma/vyavahāra penalties contiguous to 226.44–47
FAQs
It prescribes muṇḍana (head-shaving) as a prāyaścitta marker for specified cases of illicit sexual contact across certain varṇa boundaries.
Alongside rituals, theology, and arts, the Agni Purana also catalogues dharma-legal norms and penances; this verse is part of its practical compendium of expiation procedures.
Muṇḍana functions as a visible act of contrition and purification, intended to mitigate the demerit (pāpa) associated with the described transgression and re-establish ritual/social purity.