Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
श्रोत्रियाणां द्विजानां तु हृत्वा हेमैवमाचरेत् । कृतानुतापो देहे च संपूर्णे लेपयेद् धृतम् ॥ ४० ॥
śrotriyāṇāṃ dvijānāṃ tu hṛtvā hemaivamācaret | kṛtānutāpo dehe ca saṃpūrṇe lepayed dhṛtam || 40 ||
Wenn aber jemand Gold von gelehrten Brahmanen, kundigen Kennern der Veden, gestohlen hat, dann soll er—nach vollzogener vorgeschriebener Sühne und aufrichtiger Reue—den ganzen Leib mit geklärter Butter (Ghee) bestreichen.
Narada (teaching in a dharma-prāyaścitta context; dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara is assumed for this section)
Vrata: prāyaścitta for hiraṇya-steya (gold theft)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It emphasizes that offenses against śrotriya dvijas are grave and that purification requires both inner change (anutāpa, sincere remorse) and an outward, rule-based prāyaścitta to restore dharmic order.
While not directly a bhakti-verse, it supports bhakti indirectly by insisting on ethical purity and repentance—foundational qualities for sincere devotion and a clean conscience in worship.
It reflects Kalpa/Smārta ritual knowledge: a codified expiation procedure (prāyaścitta) with a specific bodily act (anointing with ghṛta) performed after acknowledging wrongdoing.