Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
पुनर्ददाति तत्रैव तद्विधानं श्रृणुष्व मे । तत्र सांतपनं कृत्वा द्वादशाहोपवासतः ॥ ४२ ॥
punardadāti tatraiva tadvidhānaṃ śrṛṇuṣva me | tatra sāṃtapanaṃ kṛtvā dvādaśāhopavāsataḥ || 42 ||
He should then give it back again, in that very place. Hear from me the proper procedure: there, having performed the Sāntapana expiation, one should undertake a twelve-day fast.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: Sāṃtapana (prāyaścitta)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that when a religious act (such as a donation) needs correction, purification through prāyaścitta (Sāntapana) and disciplined fasting restores ritual and inner purity, after which the act should be properly repeated.
By stressing repentance, self-restraint, and correctly re-offering what is meant for sacred purposes, it supports bhakti as sincere practice—devotion expressed through purity of conduct and faithful observance of dharma.
It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure): the verse explicitly points to a defined ‘vidhāna’ (method) for expiation and re-performance, showing how scripture regulates corrective rites and fasting observances.