Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं कुर्यात्स षडब्दं मुनीश्वर । अकामतो व्रजेद्यस्तु सोऽब्दकृच्छ्रं समाचरेत् ॥ ६९ ॥
brahmahatyāvrataṃ kuryātsa ṣaḍabdaṃ munīśvara | akāmato vrajedyastu so'bdakṛcchraṃ samācaret || 69 ||
O Herr der Weisen, man soll das Sühnegelübde für das Vergehen der brahma-hatyā sechs Jahre lang auf sich nehmen. Wer jedoch unabsichtlich in diese Schuld gerät, der vollziehe die einjährige kṛcchra-Buße.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: brahmahatyā-vrata
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)
FAQs
It distinguishes intentional wrongdoing from unintended fault and prescribes proportionate prāyaścitta, emphasizing moral intent and disciplined purification through vrata and kṛcchra.
Indirectly, it supports bhakti by insisting on inner purity and accountability; penitential discipline is presented as a means to restore dharmic fitness for worship and sacred practice.
Ritual application (Kalpa) is implied: the verse gives a rule-based prescription for prāyaścitta durations (six-year vrata vs one-year kṛcchra) depending on intent.