Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 39
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
मधु मांसञ्च यो ऽश्नीयाच्छावं सूतकमेव वा प्राजापत्यं चरेत् कृच्छ्रं ब्रह्मचारी यतिर्व्रती
madhu māṃsañca yo 'śnīyācchāvaṃ sūtakameva vā prājāpatyaṃ caret kṛcchraṃ brahmacārī yatirvratī
凡食蜜与肉者，或于因死亡（śāva）或产育（sūtaka）所致不净期间而进食者，当行“Prājāpatya kṛcchra”之赎罪：以梵行者之清净独身而住，如出家苦行者，守持诸誓戒。
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Prescribing Prājāpatya-kṛcchra for consuming honey/meat or eating during death/birth impurity, with emphasis on brahmacarya and vow-like ascetic conduct during expiation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prājāpatya-kṛcchra for Madhu–Māṃsa and Aśauca-bhojana","lookup_keywords":["prājāpatya kṛcchra","madhu","māṃsa","śāva aśauca","sūtaka"],"quick_summary":"Eating honey/meat or eating during death/birth impurity is expiated by the Prājāpatya kṛcchra, undertaken with celibacy and disciplined vow-observance."}
Concept: Aśauca observance and tapas as social-ritual ethics; self-control (brahmacarya) is integral to expiation.
Application: During expiation, adopt disciplined conduct (celibacy, restraint, vow-keeping) as part of the corrective practice, not merely dietary restriction.
Khanda Section: Dharma-prāyaścitta (Expiations and Purificatory Atonements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent refrains from sensuality and adopts ascetic discipline while performing Prājāpatya-kṛcchra after eating during aśauca; symbols of death/birth impurity appear in the background as a closed household shrine and mourning/birth chamber motifs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic-like householder with staff and water pot, subdued tones, background hints of a mourning household (white cloth, closed doorway), emphasis on restraint posture","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, vow-taking figure with sacred thread prominent, gold leaf on ritual vessels, minimal food depiction, solemn devotional ambience","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic depiction of 'aśauca' context and 'prājāpatya kṛcchra' observance, neat composition with labels and ritual cleanliness cues","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative interior: family in mourning/birth chamber separated from the penitent in a quiet courtyard practicing austerity, fine textile and architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: māṃsam + ca → māṃsañca; yaḥ + aśnīyāt → yo 'śnīyāt; aśnīyāt + śāvam → aśnīyācchāvam; yatiḥ + vratī → yatirvratī.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 173 (kṛcchra taxonomy and aśauca-related rules)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific expiatory procedure—Prājāpatya kṛcchra—for transgressions involving forbidden/impure eating (honey, meat, or eating during death/birth impurity), to be undertaken with ascetic discipline (brahmacarya and vows).
By cataloging concrete dharma-legal remedies (prāyaścitta) for defined ritual faults, it functions like a practical handbook of purity law alongside the Purana’s many other domains (ritual, polity, arts, and sciences).
The penance is meant to neutralize the demerit (pāpa) incurred by impurity-related consumption and restore ritual fitness (śuddhi/adhikāra) through regulated austerity, continence, and vow-based self-restraint.