Shloka 8
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
देवस्थानाभिगमनमाज्यप्राशनमेव च । एतानि मेध्यं पुरुष कुर्वन्त्याशु न संशय:
devasthānābhigamanam ājyaprāśanam eva ca | etāni medhyaṁ puruṣa kurvanty āśu na saṁśayaḥ ||
Vyāsa dit : «Se rendre aux sanctuaires sacrés des dieux et boire rituellement le ghee (beurre clarifié) — ces actes rendent promptement un homme pur ; il n’y a là aucun doute.» Dans l’horizon moral du Śānti Parva, ce vers affirme que certaines observances reconnues servent d’appui à l’expiation, rétablissant la pureté intérieure et extérieure lorsque l’on veut effacer la souillure de la faute et revenir au dharma.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
That certain dharmically sanctioned observances—especially pilgrimage to sacred shrines and ājyaprāśana—are recognized means of rapid purification, supporting the removal of moral and ritual impurity and helping one re-establish right conduct.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and expiation, Vyāsa enumerates purificatory practices and asserts their efficacy, emphasizing that these acts can quickly restore purity when undertaken as part of prāyaścitta.