Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
अज्ञानात्पंचरात्रं तु संगमेभिः करोतियः । कायकृच्छ्रं चरेत्सम्यगन्यथा पतितो भवेत् ॥ ७२ ॥
ajñānātpaṃcarātraṃ tu saṃgamebhiḥ karotiyaḥ | kāyakṛcchraṃ caretsamyaganyathā patito bhavet || 72 ||
அறியாமையால் உடலுறவு நிகழ்ந்தபடியே பாஞ்சராத்திர விரதத்தை செய்தால், அவன் முறையாக ‘காய-க்ருச்ச்ர’ பிராயச்சித்தத்தை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும்; இல்லையெனில் அவன் பதிதனாவான்.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on vrata-dharma and prāyaścitta)
Vrata: Pañcarātra observance (pañcarātra-vrata)
Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)
FAQs
It stresses that a sacred vow (vrata) must be protected by disciplined conduct; if a breach happens through ignorance, dharma provides a corrective path through prāyaścitta rather than denial, restoring ritual and inner purity.
Bhakti is supported by niyama (regulated practice). The verse implies that devotion expressed through vows requires restraint; when mistakes occur, sincere expiation preserves the integrity of worship and prevents spiritual decline.
It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the rule-governed framework of vrata and prāyaścitta—specifically, prescribing Kāya-kṛcchra as the technical remedy for a conduct-violation during a vow.