Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 36
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
अमानुषीषु पुरुष उदक्यायामयोनिषु रेतः सिक्त्वा जले चैव कृच्छ्रं शान्तपनञ्चरेत्
amānuṣīṣu puruṣa udakyāyāmayoniṣu retaḥ siktvā jale caiva kṛcchraṃ śāntapanañcaret
若男子将精液泄于非人之雌、经期之女、或不当/禁忌之胎处，并且亦泄于水中，当修Kṛcchra苦行与Śāntapana净罪法。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Assigns Kṛcchra and Śāntapana expiations for semen discharge in prohibited contexts (non-human, menstruating, improper womb, water), guiding ritual-ethical remediation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṛcchra and Śāntapana expiations for discharge in forbidden contexts (udakyā, ayoni, jalastha)","lookup_keywords":["kṛcchra","śāntapana","udakyā","ayoni","jale"],"quick_summary":"For discharge into non-human females, a menstruating woman, an improper womb, or in water, undertake Kṛcchra along with Śāntapana. The entry specifies the paired expiations for these transgressions."}
Concept: Bodily acts have ritual-ethical consequences; purification requires disciplined austerity (kṛcchra) and pacificatory expiation (śāntapana).
Application: Follow prescribed austerities and restorative rites to re-establish self-control and communal/ritual purity after prohibited sexual acts.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śauca-vidhi (Expiations and Purificatory Rites)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent performing austerities: sparse setting, controlled diet and ritual sipping; a river/water body shown symbolically to indicate the ‘in water’ transgression; a priest prescribes Kṛcchra and Śāntapana with a manuscript open.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, riverbank scene with stylized water waves; penitent in simple cloth, ritual vessel (kamaṇḍalu) and small measured food; priest holding palm-leaf text labeled ‘kṛcchra’ and ‘śāntapana’; somber palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, penitent under an ornate arch but with austere posture; gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels; side vignette of a water body; inscription-like scroll naming kṛcchra and śāntapana.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, procedural clarity: two panels—Kṛcchra regimen and Śāntapana rite—shown with minimal background; river icon for ‘jale’; fine linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, quiet hermitage near a stream; scholar-priest instructs penitent; detailed rendering of water, manuscript, and simple meal; restrained, penitential mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: उदक्यायामयोनिषु = उदक्यायाम् + अयोनिषु; चैव = च + एव; शान्तपनञ्चरेत् = शान्तपनम् + चरेत् (with inserted ‘च’ in text: शान्तपनम् + चरेत्; some recensions read ‘शान्तपनं चरेत्’).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Prāyaścitta-khaṇḍa: kṛcchra varieties and śāntapana procedure; śauca-vidhi rules on bodily impurities
FAQs
It prescribes specific expiations—Kṛcchra and Śāntapana—for defined acts considered ritually and ethically transgressive, giving a practical prāyaścitta protocol.
Beyond myth and devotion, it codifies dharma-śāstra style regulation—mapping particular offenses to particular penances—showing the text’s coverage of ritual law and social-religious discipline.
The verse frames these acts as sources of demerit and impurity and teaches that disciplined austerity and expiation can pacify the fault, restore ritual fitness, and reduce karmic burden.