Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 26
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
चाण्डालस्य तु पानीयं पीत्वा स्यात् षड्दिनं व्रती चण्डालकूपभाण्डेषु पीत्वा शान्तपनं चरेत्
cāṇḍālasya tu pānīyaṃ pītvā syāt ṣaḍdinaṃ vratī caṇḍālakūpabhāṇḍeṣu pītvā śāntapanaṃ caret
若饮用旃陀罗（Caṇḍāla）之饮水，当持戒誓六日。若饮其井水，或饮其所用器皿之水，当行“Śāntapana”之忏悔净罪法。
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidelines for expiation (prāyaścitta) after ritual impurity from consuming water associated with a caṇḍāla; specifies duration and the appropriate observance (Śāntapana).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for drinking Caṇḍāla water (ṣaḍdinavrata; Śāntapana)","lookup_keywords":["caṇḍāla-pānīya","śauca","prāyaścitta","ṣaḍdina-vrata","śāntapana"],"quick_summary":"If one drinks a caṇḍāla’s drinking water, a six-day vow is prescribed; if the water is from a caṇḍāla’s well or vessels, the Śāntapana expiation is to be performed."}
Concept: Ritual purity is maintained through graded expiations proportionate to the source and degree of contact/consumption.
Application: When accidental impurity occurs, follow a time-bound vow or a named expiation rather than denial; restore eligibility for rites through prescribed discipline.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śauca (Purification rites and expiations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent person at a riverside or clean courtyard undertaking a six-day vow; nearby a well and water-vessels marked as impure, with a teacher indicating the Śāntapana observance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, austere purification scene: a dvija in simple white cloth seated near a well and water pot, guru pointing to ritual rules, muted earth pigments, sacred calm atmosphere.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central penitent with halo-like aureole of sanctity, gold-leaf accents on water pot and ritual vessels, minimal background, emphasis on vow and purity symbolism.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional composition showing well, vessels, and the practitioner counting six days on a palm-leaf tally, delicate lines, soft colors, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard scene with a well, attendants, and a scholar-priest reading from a manuscript prescribing Śāntapana; fine architectural detail and naturalistic water vessels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: षड्दिनम् = षट् + दिनम् (dvigu); चण्डालकूपभाण्डेषु treated as tatpuruṣa compound; no further external sandhi requiring split.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (Śauca–Prāyaścitta section); Agni Purana prāyaścitta listings for food/water contact impurities
FAQs
It prescribes specific prāyaścitta (expiation) for drinking water associated with a Caṇḍāla: a six-day vow in one case, and the Śāntapana penance when the water is from the Caṇḍāla’s well or vessels.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana codifies practical dharma topics—ritual purity, social/ritual contamination categories, and standardized expiations—showing its wide scope as a compendium of religious law and practice.
The verse frames such consumption as a form of ritual impurity requiring atonement; undertaking the vow/Śāntapana is meant to restore śauca (purity) and mitigate karmic and ritual consequences.