Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
स्नात्वा च विधिवज्जप्याद्गायत्र्यष्टसहस्त्रकम् । यवमात्रसुवर्णस्य स्तेयाच्छुद्धो भवेद्दिजः ॥ ४७ ॥
snātvā ca vidhivajjapyādgāyatryaṣṭasahastrakam | yavamātrasuvarṇasya steyācchuddho bhaveddijaḥ || 47 ||
स्नान करून विधिपूर्वक गायत्रीचा आठ हजार जप करावा। यवमात्र सुवर्णचोरीच्या दोषातून द्विज शुद्ध होतो॥४७॥
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It presents prāyaścitta as a restorative discipline: ritual purity through snāna and focused mantra-japa is prescribed to cleanse the moral and karmic stain of a minor theft.
While framed as expiation, it relies on disciplined sacred recitation; such mantra-japa trains attention and reverence toward Vedic divinity, supporting a devotional life through regular remembrance and purification.
It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) and mantra-prayoga: bathing (śauca) and a fixed-count japa (8,000) as a rule-based remedial rite for a specific offense.