Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
कामतो गोवधे नैव शुद्धिर्द्दष्टा मनीषिभिः । पानशय्यासनाद्येषु पुष्पमूलफलेषु च ॥ ७८ ॥
kāmato govadhe naiva śuddhirddaṣṭā manīṣibhiḥ | pānaśayyāsanādyeṣu puṣpamūlaphaleṣu ca || 78 ||
जाणूनबुजून गोवध केल्यास मनीषींनी कोणतीही शुद्धी मानलेली नाही. तसेच पेय, शय्या, आसन इत्यादींमध्ये आणि पुष्प, मूळ, फळ इत्यादींमध्येही (या महापापाची) शुद्धी नाही॥७८॥
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Dharma discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It emphasizes the extreme gravity of intentional cow-killing (treated as a major transgression) and warns that ordinary notions of ritual cleansing do not apply to such deliberate wrongdoing.
By highlighting ahimsa and reverence for sacred life, it sets a moral foundation for Vishnu-bhakti: devotion is not merely ritual, but requires restraint, compassion, and avoidance of deliberate harm.
It reflects Dharmashastra-style application of purity rules (śauca) and prayāścitta reasoning—how actions affect eligibility for ritual acts involving food, drink, seats, and offerings.