Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5
नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमः
Occasional Rites and Their Procedure
ब्रह्महत्यादिदोषाणामतीव महतामपि । निष्कृतिर्ब्रह्मकूर्चस्य पानान्नान्या विशिष्यते
brahmahatyādidoṣāṇāmatīva mahatāmapi | niṣkṛtirbrahmakūrcasya pānānnānyā viśiṣyate
Selbst für überaus schwere Sünden—wie brahmahatyā (die Tötung eines Brāhmaṇa) und dergleichen—gilt keine Sühne als höher als das vorgeschriebene Trinken im Brahmakūrca-Gelübde.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: General prāyaścitta teaching: the ‘drinking’ (pāna) of brahmakūrca-prasāda is praised as unsurpassed expiation even for mahāpātakas like brahmahatyā, emphasizing Śiva’s role as Paśupati who cuts the bonds of pāśa.
Significance: Frames Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-prasāda as exceptionally purifying; encourages repentance and disciplined observance rather than despair over grave faults.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that even the heaviest karmic stains can be purified through a disciplined expiatory observance, emphasizing inner cleansing and restraint as a means to loosen bondage (pāśa) and reorient the soul toward Shiva (Pati).
Expiation is presented as preparation for worthy Shiva-worship: purification of conduct and mind supports steadiness in devotion to Saguna Shiva (such as Linga worship), making worship a transformative practice rather than a mere ritual.
The verse points to the Brahmakūrca prayashchitta, specifically the prescribed pāna (ritual drinking) as part of the vow; in Shaiva practice this is ideally accompanied by repentance, self-restraint, and japa of Shiva’s names (e.g., Om Namah Shivaya) to stabilize purification.