Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 26
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि राजादेर्निग्रहात्तथा । नित्यकर्मनिवृत्तिः स्याद्यस्य पुंसोऽवशात्मनः । तेनाप्यत्र विधातव्यं प्रायश्चित्तं प्रयत्नतः
ajñānājjñānato vāpi rājādernigrahāttathā | nityakarmanivṛttiḥ syādyasya puṃso'vaśātmanaḥ | tenāpyatra vidhātavyaṃ prāyaścittaṃ prayatnataḥ
അജ്ഞാനത്താലോ അറിഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടോ, രാജാദികളുടെ നിയന്ത്രണത്താലോ, നിർബ്ബലനായ ഒരാളുടെ നിത്യകർമ്മങ്ങൾ മുടങ്ങിയാൽ, അവനും ഇവിടെ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം ചെയ്യേണ്ടതാണ്.
Agastya (narration continues)
Tirtha: Ayodhyā-kṣetra (general)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A weary pilgrim, restrained by guards or burdened by hardship, is released and approaches a priest at Ayodhyā to perform expiation for missed daily rites; the scene emphasizes compassion and renewal.
FAQs
Even involuntary lapses in duty are to be healed through dharmic correction—prāyaścitta preserves spiritual integrity amid hardship.
Ayodhyā is again indicated by “atra,” as a fitting setting for rectifying missed nitya-karmas through expiation.
Prāyaścitta is prescribed for nitya-karma-nivṛtti (lapse of daily rites), even when caused by compulsion.