Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 10
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
प्रायश्चित्तं प्रवृत्तस्य बधे स्यात्तु त्रिवार्षिकं ब्रह्मघ्नि क्षत्रे द्विगुणं विट्च्छूद्रे द्विगुणं त्रिधा
prāyaścittaṃ pravṛttasya badhe syāttu trivārṣikaṃ brahmaghni kṣatre dviguṇaṃ viṭcchūdre dviguṇaṃ tridhā
凡已着手行杀者，其赎罪法规定为三年之行持；若杀婆罗门，则加倍；杀刹帝利，亦加倍；至于吠舍与首陀罗，则依所说次第作三重加倍之增广（即按等级而乘增）。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in Dharma and expiations)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Gives a graded schedule of expiation for homicide/attempted killing, scaling by the victim’s varṇa/status and by the nature of the act (having proceeded to the killing), useful for juridical-religious adjudication.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Graded Homicide Prāyaścitta by Varṇa and Duration","lookup_keywords":["vadha prāyaścitta","trivārṣika","brahma-ghna","kṣatriya-vadha","vaiśya-śūdra-vadha"],"quick_summary":"Penance for killing is time-graded: a baseline three-year observance is stated, then increased by specified multipliers depending on whether the victim is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, or śūdra."}
Concept: Dharma employs graded responsibility and restitution; social-ritual status affects prescribed penance, reflecting the smṛti framework of varṇa-based valuation.
Application: For historical/legal study: illustrates how religious penance schedules functioned alongside governance; for practice, emphasizes proportional accountability and the seriousness of violence.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Prāyaścitta (Expiations and legal-ritual penances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dharma court scene with a chart of penance durations: three-year baseline and multipliers by varṇa; a scribe records, an elder points to the schedule, the accused stands in humility.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, council of elders with palm-leaf chart showing year counts, accused penitent at side, strong outlines, symbolic varṇa markers, solemn palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central dharma-ācārya with gold halo, ornate chart panel with embossed gold numerals for durations, attendants and scribe, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic board showing trivārṣika and multipliers, clean composition, fine detailing of manuscripts and counting beads, calm instructional mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, administrative courtroom with scribes, ledger-like chart of penalties, nuanced faces, architectural depth, documentary precision"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syāttu = syāt + tu; trivārṣikaṃ = tri + vārṣikam; viṭcchūdre = viṭ + śūdre (assimilation ṭ+ś → cch in orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (continuation of homicide-related expiations and their conditions)
FAQs
It gives a Dharma-śāstra style rule for prāyaścitta: a baseline three-year penance for killing, with graded multipliers depending on the varṇa of the person slain.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa includes applied norms of law and ritual—here, a quantified schedule of expiations—showing its coverage of governance, ethics, and ritual jurisprudence.
It frames homicide as a heavy karmic fault requiring sustained purification (multi-year discipline), emphasizing that moral injury demands proportionate atonement to restore ritual and spiritual integrity.