Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं कृत्वा शुद्धो भवति निश्चितम् । प्रायश्चित्तं विधानं तु सर्वत्र मुनिसत्तम ॥ २२ ॥
brahmahatyāvrataṃ kṛtvā śuddho bhavati niścitam | prāyaścittaṃ vidhānaṃ tu sarvatra munisattama || 22 ||
Celui qui a accompli le vœu prescrit pour expier la brahma-hatyā (le meurtre d’un brāhmaṇa) devient assurément purifié. Ô meilleur des sages, la juste ordonnance du prāyaścitta s’applique partout, en tout cas où elle est prescrite.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)
Vrata: brahmahatyā-vrata
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It asserts that sincere observance of the prescribed prāyaścitta-vrata leads to śuddhi (inner and ritual purification), emphasizing Dharma’s capacity to restore moral and spiritual order after grave wrongdoing.
Though focused on prāyaścitta, it supports Bhakti indirectly by establishing eligibility and purity for worship—purification through vrata and ordinance prepares the practitioner for steadier devotion and sacred practice.
It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) via prāyaścitta-vidhāna—i.e., the codified rules for vows and expiations that govern how purification rites are to be applied in practice.