Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
वैश्यायां पितृपत्न्यां तु षडब्दं व्रतमाचरेत् । गत्वा शूद्वां गुरोर्भार्यां त्रिवर्षं व्रतमाचरेत् ॥ ६४ ॥
vaiśyāyāṃ pitṛpatnyāṃ tu ṣaḍabdaṃ vratamācaret | gatvā śūdvāṃ gurorbhāryāṃ trivarṣaṃ vratamācaret || 64 ||
Jika (kesalahan itu melibatkan) seorang wanita Vaiśya—terutamanya isteri kepada bapa sendiri—seseorang itu harus menunaikan sumpah penebusan dosa selama enam tahun. Jika (ia melibatkan) seorang wanita Śūdra—terutamanya isteri kepada guru sendiri—seseorang itu harus menunaikan sumpah selama tiga tahun.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma/expiation context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It frames prāyaścitta (expiation) as a disciplined, time-bound vrata meant to restore dharma after a serious transgression involving protected relationships (father’s wife, guru’s wife).
While not directly teaching bhakti practices, it supports a bhakti-aligned life by insisting on ethical restraint and corrective vows—purifying conduct so devotion can be stable and sincere.
Ritual discipline and dharma-śāstric procedure: the verse specifies vrata durations as a practical rule of prāyaścitta (applied ritual law), rather than a grammar/astrology teaching.