Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44
Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga
प्रायश्चित्तं स पप्रच्छ किमत्रेति विधीयताम् । ते चोचुर्नवयंविद्मः कशेरुः पृच्छ्यतामिति ॥ ४२ ॥
prāyaścittaṃ sa papraccha kimatreti vidhīyatām | te cocurnavayaṃvidmaḥ kaśeruḥ pṛcchyatāmiti || 42 ||
فسأل عن الكفّارة (برَايَشِتّا) قائلاً: «ماذا يُشرَع في هذا الأمر؟» فقالوا: «لا نعلم—فاسأل كاشيرو.»
Narrator (dialogue report within the Narada–Sanatkumara discourse framework)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It highlights humility and dharmic rigor: when expiation is unclear, one should not improvise but seek the correct, competent authority to ensure the remedy is truly purifying.
Indirectly, it supports Bhakti through integrity: sincere devotion is strengthened when one corrects mistakes properly, following dharma rather than acting on guesswork.
It emphasizes procedural discipline akin to Kalpa (ritual practice): prāyaścitta must be determined by qualified guidance, reflecting correct application of dharma-śāstra and ritual norms.