Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
दशनिष्कांतपर्यंतमूर्द्धूं निष्कचतुष्टयात् । हत्वा च रजतं विद्वान्कुर्याच्चांद्रायणं मुने ॥ ५२ ॥
daśaniṣkāṃtaparyaṃtamūrddhūṃ niṣkacatuṣṭayāt | hatvā ca rajataṃ vidvānkuryāccāṃdrāyaṇaṃ mune || 52 ||
Wahai muni, bila seorang terpelajar mencuri perak—hingga nilai empat niṣka, dan pada jumlah yang lebih tinggi hingga sepuluh niṣka—hendaknya ia menjalankan vrata Cāndrāyaṇa sebagai penebus dosa.
Narada (teaching prāyaścitta norms to the sages in dialogue context)
Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It frames theft (especially of valuable metals like silver) as a dharmic transgression that must be purified through prāyaścitta, emphasizing inner restitution through regulated self-discipline (Cāndrāyaṇa).
While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional life by insisting on ethical purity; the Cāndrāyaṇa vow functions as a corrective discipline that restores eligibility for worship and sacred practice.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the prescription of a specific vrata—Cāndrāyaṇa—whose practice follows lunar regulation and formal penance rules used in Dharma/Smṛti traditions.