Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
वैश्यायां पितृपत्न्यां तु षडब्दं व्रतमाचरेत् । गत्वा शूद्वां गुरोर्भार्यां त्रिवर्षं व्रतमाचरेत् ॥ ६४ ॥
vaiśyāyāṃ pitṛpatnyāṃ tu ṣaḍabdaṃ vratamācaret | gatvā śūdvāṃ gurorbhāryāṃ trivarṣaṃ vratamācaret || 64 ||
যদি বৈশ্যা নাৰীৰ সৈতে—বিশেষকৈ পিতাৰ পত্নীৰ সৈতে—অপৰাধ ঘটে, তেন্তে ছয় বছৰ প্ৰায়শ্চিত্ত-ব্ৰত পালন কৰিব লাগে। আৰু যদি শূদ্ৰা নাৰীৰ সৈতে—বিশেষকৈ গুৰুপত্নীৰ সৈতে—অপৰাধ ঘটে, তেন্তে তিন বছৰ ব্ৰত পালন কৰিব লাগে।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma/expiation context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It frames prāyaścitta (expiation) as a disciplined, time-bound vrata meant to restore dharma after a serious transgression involving protected relationships (father’s wife, guru’s wife).
While not directly teaching bhakti practices, it supports a bhakti-aligned life by insisting on ethical restraint and corrective vows—purifying conduct so devotion can be stable and sincere.
Ritual discipline and dharma-śāstric procedure: the verse specifies vrata durations as a practical rule of prāyaścitta (applied ritual law), rather than a grammar/astrology teaching.