Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 37
प्रायश्चित्तानि (Expiations) — Association-Impurity, Purification Rites, and Graded Penance
ये प्रत्यवसिता विप्राः प्रव्रज्यादिबलात्तथा भक्ष्यभोज्यविशुद्ध्यर्थमिति झ लोभाद्भुक्त्वेति ख , ग , घ , ङ , छ च अनाशकनिवृताश् च तेषां शुद्धिः प्रचक्ष्यते
ye pratyavasitā viprāḥ pravrajyādibalāttathā bhakṣyabhojyaviśuddhyarthamiti jha lobhādbhuktveti kha , ga , gha , ṅa , cha ca anāśakanivṛtāś ca teṣāṃ śuddhiḥ pracakṣyate
对于已受持定戒之婆罗门，以及因出家游行等情势（pravrajyā）所迫者；又对于怀着“此为净化可食可饮之物”之念而食者；以及因贪欲而食者；并对停止禁食、破斋者——今当宣说其应行之净化（所需赎罪法）。
Lord Agni (teaching the Purāṇic dharma to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Classifies cases/persons (vrata-bound, compelled by pravrajyā-like circumstances, intention of purification, greed, broken fast) for whom specific purification rules will be stated—guiding adjudication of expiation by context and intent.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Adhikāra-bheda: who requires which śuddhi after irregular eating","lookup_keywords":["vrata","pravrajyā","lobha","anāśaka","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Purification is not one-size-fits-all; the text signals that expiation varies by status (observance/renunciation), compulsion, intention, greed, and breaking a fast."}
Concept: Dharma-judgment depends on adhikāra (who), nimitta (cause/compulsion), and bhāva (intention), not merely the outward act.
Application: When evaluating a lapse, consider motive and circumstance (e.g., compulsion vs greed) before prescribing penance; apply proportionality.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Śauca–Prāyaścitta: rules of purity and expiation for food and conduct)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher of dharma enumerates categories of brāhmaṇas and circumstances (observance, renunciation-compulsion, intention, greed, broken fast) before declaring their purifications.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru seated on a low seat with palm-leaf manuscript, students in rows, hand gestures indicating enumeration of categories, serene didactic tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, dharma-ācārya with manuscript and stylus, gold-work halo-like arch, small grouped figures representing different cases (ascetic, fasting person, greedy eater).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, schematic instructional composition: labeled groups around a central teacher—vratī, pravrajita, śuddhy-artha, lobhī, fast-breaker—fine detailing and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly in a madrasa-like pavilion adapted to Sanskritic setting, a pandit pointing to a list while varied figures listen, rich borders and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रव्रज्यादिबलात् = प्रव्रज्यादि + बलात्; लोभाद्भुक्त्वा = लोभात् + भुक्त्वा; निवृताश् च = निवृताः + च (विसर्ग-लोप)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 170.38–170.40 (subsequent śuddhi/prāyaścitta prescriptions)
FAQs
It classifies cases requiring śuddhi/prāyaścitta related to eating—under vow, under compulsion (e.g., pravrajyā), under a ‘purification’ rationale, out of greed, or after breaking a fast—and announces that their specific purification will be prescribed.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning like a dharma manual: it systematizes everyday ethical-ritual contingencies (food, vows, motive, necessity) and links them to graded rules of expiation, alongside its many other subjects.
The verse distinguishes motive and circumstance in karmic fault: greed aggravates, necessity mitigates, and prescribed śuddhi restores ritual fitness and reduces the karmic consequences of improper consumption or broken observances.