Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चित्तेन विधिना पापं तस्य प्रणश्यति । तस्मादत्र प्रकर्त्तव्यं प्रायश्चित्तं विधानतः

Transliteration

prāyaścittena vidhinā pāpaṃ tasya praṇaśyati | tasmādatra prakarttavyaṃ prāyaścittaṃ vidhānataḥ

Translation

Par la prāyaścitta accomplie selon le rite, le péché de cet homme est détruit. C’est pourquoi, ici même, il faut accomplir la prāyaścitta conformément aux prescriptions.

Word by Word

• प्रायश्चित्तेन: by expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental: ‘by means of expiation’)

• विधिना: by the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (according to rule/method)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of him/of that person)

• प्रणश्यति: is destroyed, perishes
• प्रणश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √naś (नश्)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ/तस्मात्-कारणात् (therefore/from that reason)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (here)

• प्रकर्त्तव्यम्: should be done
• प्रकर्त्तव्यम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √kṛ (कृ) (तव्यत्-कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तव्यता (to be done)

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• विधानतः: as prescribed
• विधानतः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb): ‘according to prescription/rule’

Speaker

Agastya (narration continues)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā-kṣetra (general)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim in simple attire receives instruction from a learned brāhmaṇa and performs a rule-bound expiatory rite within the sacred precincts of Ayodhyā, with temple spires and riverbank in the background.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification is not merely emotional; it is dharmically structured—vidhi-based prāyaścitta is said to destroy pāpa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā is implied by “atra,” presenting it as an auspicious place to undertake expiatory observances.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform prāyaścitta strictly “vidhānataḥ” (as prescribed).