Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
होमद्रव्ये मूषिकाद्यैर् भक्षिते कीटसंयुते तावन्मात्रं परित्यज्य प्रोक्ष्य देवादि पूजयेत्
homadravye mūṣikādyair bhakṣite kīṭasaṃyute tāvanmātraṃ parityajya prokṣya devādi pūjayet
若供火祭之物被鼠等啮食，或为虫类所杂染，应仅弃去其受污之量；随后以净水洒净（prokṣaṇa）其余部分，继续礼拜神祇及其余仪轨。
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the primary Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Quality-control for homa materials: discard only contaminated portion, purify remainder by sprinkling, then continue worship—minimizes waste while maintaining śuddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Handling Contaminated Homa Materials (Rats/Insects)","lookup_keywords":["homa-dravya","mūṣika","kīṭa-saṃyuta","parityāga","prokṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"If homa items are partially eaten or insect-infested, discard only the affected part, sprinkle/purify the rest, and proceed with deity worship and remaining rites."}
Concept: Pragmatic dharma: purity is preserved through proportionate correction (discard the दोष-part only) and purification (prokṣaṇa).
Application: Adopt ‘minimal discard + purification’ as a standard operating procedure for ritual materials.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa and ritual purification procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual store-room scene: homa materials in bowls; a rat has nibbled one portion and insects are visible; the priest removes the spoiled part, sprinkles sanctified water over the remainder, and resumes worship at the shrine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, earthy reds and greens, priest discarding a small spoiled portion from a bowl, prokṣaṇa with darbha and water pot, homa-kunda and sanctum in background, stylized rat and insects subtly shown","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented vessels; priest with gold-highlighted kalaśa sprinkling water; small discarded portion aside; deity in shrine framed with gold foil; emphasis on ritual purity tools","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of ‘discard only that much’ with measured portioning, then prokṣaṇa; neat arrangement of dravya bowls and homa ladle; soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of ritual ingredients, tiny rat near a bowl, priest carefully separating contaminated part with a spoon, sprinkling water; architectural niche shrine in background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: होमद्रव्ये = होम-द्रव्ये; मूषिकाद्यैर् = मूषिक-आद्यैः; तावन्मात्रं = तावत्-मात्रम्; देवादि = देव-आदि
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi: prokṣaṇa rules and dravya-śuddhi; Agni Purana homa-vidhi sections on acceptable dravya and handling
FAQs
It gives a practical homa-protocol: if oblation materials are contaminated by rodents or insects, discard only the affected portion, purify the remainder by sprinkling (prokṣaṇa), and continue the worship/rite.
It preserves operational details of ritual procedure—handling contamination, acceptable remediation, and continuity of worship—showing the text’s coverage of minute, practice-oriented rules alongside theology.
It maintains ritual purity without unnecessary waste: removing the doṣa (defect) and restoring śuddhi through prokṣaṇa enables the rite to remain spiritually efficacious and avoids the blemish of offering impure substances.