Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 45

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas: Liquor, Theft, Sexual Transgression, Contact with the Fallen, and Homicide

प्रमाप्याकामतो वैश्यं कुर्यात् संवत्सरद्वयम् / गोसहस्रं सपादं च दद्याद् ब्रह्महणो व्रतम् / कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रौ वा कुर्याच्चान्द्रायणमथावि वा

pramāpyākāmato vaiśyaṃ kuryāt saṃvatsaradvayam / gosahasraṃ sapādaṃ ca dadyād brahmahaṇo vratam / kṛcchrātikṛcchrau vā kuryāccāndrāyaṇamathāvi vā

Jika seseorang menyebabkan kematian seorang Vaiśya secara tidak sengaja, dia harus menjalani penebusan dosa selama dua tahun. Dia juga harus memberikan seribu ekor lembu bersama anak-anaknya, sesuai dengan aturan bagi pembunuh seorang Brahmana; atau melakukan pertapaan Kṛcchra dan Ati-kṛcchra, atau sumpah Cāndrāyaṇa.

प्रमाप्यhaving killed
प्रमाप्य:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्र-मा (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; having caused to die/killed
अकामतःunintentionally
अकामतः:
Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअकामतस् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त adverb; ‘without desire/ unintentionally’
वैश्यम्a Vaiśya
वैश्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine
कुर्यात्should do/perform
कुर्यात्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada
संवत्सरद्वयम्a period of two years
संवत्सरद्वयम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसंवत्सर + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; द्विगु-समास (द्वौ संवत्सरौ)
गो-सहस्रम्a thousand cows
गो-सहस्रम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगो + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गवां सहस्रम्)
सपादम्with an extra quarter (i.e., 1000¼)
सपादम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootस + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; कर्मधारय (पादेन सहितम्)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)
दद्यात्should give
दद्यात्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada
ब्रह्महणःof a Brahmin-slayer
ब्रह्महणः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् + हन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular masculine; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता)
व्रतम्vow/penance
व्रतम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter
कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रौ(the) Kṛcchra and Atikṛcchra (penances)
कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रौ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकृच्छ्र + अतिकृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; accusative dual masculine; द्वन्द्व (कृच्छ्रश्च अतिकृच्छ्रश्च)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात
कुर्यात्should perform
कुर्यात्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada
चान्द्रायणम्the Cāndrāyaṇa penance
चान्द्रायणम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootचान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter
अथthen/also
अथ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; discourse particle (then/now)
अपिalso
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; particle (also/even)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात

Sūta (narrating the Kurma Purana’s dharma-teachings to the sages)

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

V
Vaiśya
B
Brahmahatyā (expiation standard)
K
Kṛcchra
A
Ati-kṛcchra
C
Cāndrāyaṇa
G
Go-dāna (gift of cows)

FAQs

This verse does not directly teach Ātman-metaphysics; it frames dharma in practical terms—restoring moral order through prāyaścitta, restraint, and dāna—supporting the broader Purāṇic view that inner purity and right action prepare one for higher knowledge.

The verse emphasizes tapas-oriented disciplines—Kṛcchra, Ati-kṛcchra, and Cāndrāyaṇa—structured austerities that cultivate self-control (saṃyama) and purification, functioning as preparatory practices aligned with dharmic and yogic restraint.

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; however, its dharma framework is consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis where ethical purification (prāyaścitta, dāna, tapas) supports devotion and realization across both traditions.