Shloka 21
Mohinī-prashna
The Question about Mohinī
उभयोर्यन्न दृष्टं हि तत्पुराणैः प्रगीयते । प्रायश्चित्तं तु हत्यायामातुरस्यौषधं प्रिये ॥ २१ ॥
ubhayoryanna dṛṣṭaṃ hi tatpurāṇaiḥ pragīyate | prāyaścittaṃ tu hatyāyāmāturasyauṣadhaṃ priye || 21 ||
ശ്രുതി-സ്മൃതി—ഇരുവരിലും കാണാത്തത് പുരാണങ്ങൾ പാടിപ്പറയുന്നു. ഹത്യാപാപത്തിൽ, ഹേ പ്രിയേ, പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം പീഡിതനുള്ള ഔഷധമാണ്।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue form)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It affirms the Purāṇas as a guiding authority for dharma when specific details are not explicitly found in Śruti and Smṛti, and it frames prāyaścitta as a compassionate remedy that restores inner and social order after grave wrongdoing.
By calling expiation a “medicine,” the verse implies purification rather than despair; such purification supports sincere repentance and renewed alignment with dharma—an essential foundation for steady Vishnu-bhakti and disciplined spiritual life.
It highlights Dharma-śāstra style application of scriptural hierarchy (pramāṇa): when Śruti and Smṛti do not specify, Purāṇic injunctions guide ritual and ethical practice—especially in prescribing prāyaścitta procedures.