Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
आसायं प्रातरारभ्य जप्त्वा वै वेदमातरम् । हेम कृष्णलमात्रं तु हृत्वा सांतपनं चरेत् ॥ ४८ ॥
āsāyaṃ prātarārabhya japtvā vai vedamātaram | hema kṛṣṇalamātraṃ tu hṛtvā sāṃtapanaṃ caret || 48 ||
En commençant le soir et en poursuivant dès le matin suivant, après avoir récité en japa, selon la règle, la « Mère des Veda », la Gāyatrī, si l’on a dérobé de l’or à la mesure d’un kṛṣṇala, qu’on accomplisse l’observance expiatoire dite Sāṃtapana.
Narada (in instruction mode, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)
Vrata: Sāṃtapana
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It links purification to both mantra (Gāyatrī as ‘Veda-mātā’) and disciplined expiation (Sāṃtapana), showing that inner recitation and outer observance together restore dharmic purity.
While framed as prāyaścitta, the verse emphasizes reverent japa of the Veda’s sacred mother-mantra; such steady remembrance is a devotional discipline that supports purity and steadiness of mind.
Ritual discipline is foregrounded: timing of observance (evening-to-morning), mantra-japa procedure, and precise traditional measure (kṛṣṇala) for a prescribed offering/fee—reflecting technical ritual exactness associated with Kalpa (auxiliary of Veda).