Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 38
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
चण्डालान्त्यस्त्रियो गत्वा भुक्त्वा च प्रतिगृह्य च पतत्यज्ञानतो विप्रो ज्ञानात् साम्यन्तु गच्छति
caṇḍālāntyastriyo gatvā bhuktvā ca pratigṛhya ca patatyajñānato vipro jñānāt sāmyantu gacchati
婆罗门若前往旃陀罗及其他贱民之妇女处，又在彼处食用并受其馈赠；若出于无知而为，则堕落失位；若明知而为，则归于其等之境况（在身份上与之同等）。
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within a dharma-nirṇaya passage)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Rules of social contact, commensality, and gift-acceptance affecting varṇa-status and ritual standing; distinguishes culpability by knowledge/intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Patana by outcaste-contact: ignorance vs knowledge","lookup_keywords":["caṇḍāla","pratigraha","bhukta","ajñāta","jñāta"],"quick_summary":"Contact with outcaste women and accepting food/gifts from them causes a brāhmaṇa’s fall; ignorance leads to ‘fall’ (patana), while deliberate action leads to full assimilation into that status."}
Concept: Moral-ritual consequence depends on saṅga (association) and cetanā (intent/knowledge).
Application: Exercise discernment in accepting food/gifts and in social proximity; treat deliberate transgression as heavier than inadvertent contact.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Varna-ashauca, food-acceptance rules, social contact and purity)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brāhmaṇa is shown entering an outcaste quarter, eating food offered there and receiving gifts; the verse contrasts inadvertent vs deliberate action through two juxtaposed panels.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split-scene: left panel a brāhmaṇa unknowingly accepts food in an outcaste dwelling; right panel knowingly accepts gifts; expressive faces, symbolic boundary lines, earthy reds and ochres, moral didactic tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style diptych, brāhmaṇa receiving a bowl of food and a gift bundle, gold borders emphasizing ‘pratigraha’, stylized houses indicating outcaste quarter, icon-like moral tableau.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional storyboard with captions: ‘ajñānataḥ’ vs ‘jñānāt’, fine detailing of food, gift, and threshold crossing, calm didactic palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, street scene with distinct neighborhood architecture, a brāhmaṇa dining and receiving a wrapped gift, onlookers reacting, nuanced facial expressions to show intent, documentary realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caṇḍāla+antya+striyaḥ→caṇḍālāntyastriyo; patati+ajñānataḥ→patatyajñānato; sāmyaṃ+tu→sāmyantu
Related Themes: Agni Purana 169 (varṇa-āśauca and pratigraha rules)
FAQs
It specifies a dharma-vidhi about anna-pratigraha (accepting food/gifts) and bhojana (eating) in contexts deemed ritually/socially improper, distinguishing consequences based on ignorance versus deliberate intent.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma norms—purity, conduct, and social regulations—functioning like a digest of dharma-shastra guidance embedded within a Purana.
It frames transgression as producing karmic and status consequences: unintentional violation leads to a 'fall,' while intentional violation is treated as identity with the prohibited condition, emphasizing the moral weight of intention (saṅkalpa).