Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
संवत्सरं त्रयं वेश्यं शूर्द्रं हत्वा तु वत्सरम् । दीक्षितस्य स्त्रियं हत्वा ब्राह्मणी चाष्टवत्सरान् ॥ २१ ॥
saṃvatsaraṃ trayaṃ veśyaṃ śūrdraṃ hatvā tu vatsaram | dīkṣitasya striyaṃ hatvā brāhmaṇī cāṣṭavatsarān || 21 ||
वैश्यं हत्वा त्रिसंवत्सरं प्रायश्चित्तं, शूद्रं हत्वा तु संवत्सरम्। दीक्षितस्य स्त्रियं हत्वा ब्राह्मणीं च हत्वा अष्टवत्सरान् चरेत्॥
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on Dharma and prāyaścitta)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It frames prāyaścitta as a dhārmic mechanism for moral repair—stating that grave harm demands sustained austerity, restraint, and ritual purification proportionate to the offense.
While primarily legal-ritual, it indirectly supports bhakti by emphasizing inner and outer purification; sustained penance prepares the mind for sattva, making Vishnu-bhakti and disciplined worship steadier.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse gives time-measures for penance as part of dharma-śāstric ritual regulation, guiding how expiatory observances are structured.