Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
सनक उवाच । प्रायश्चित्तविधिं वक्ष्ये श्रृणु नारद सांप्रतम् । प्रायश्चित्तविशुद्धात्मा सर्वकर्मफलं लभेत् ॥ १ ॥
sanaka uvāca | prāyaścittavidhiṃ vakṣye śrṛṇu nārada sāṃpratam | prāyaścittaviśuddhātmā sarvakarmaphalaṃ labhet || 1 ||
Sanaka said: Now listen, O Nārada—I shall explain the method of prāyaścitta (expiation). One whose inner self is purified through prāyaścitta attains the fruits of all actions.
Sanaka
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It establishes prāyaścitta as a purifying discipline: by removing inner taint from wrongdoing, a person becomes fit to receive the full spiritual and ritual fruits of karma.
While not directly teaching bhakti, it prepares the devotee for steady worship by emphasizing inner purification; a cleansed conscience and disciplined conduct support sincere devotion and consistent sādhana.
It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—specifically dharma-śāstric prāyaścitta-vidhi—showing that correct expiatory rites and rules restore ritual purity and karmic order.