Prāyaścitta for Faults (Water/Fire/Confinement), Child Culpability, and Purification in Menstruation and Illness-Contact
भूदानादिनिरूपणं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशतमो ऽध्यायः श्रीविष्णुरुवाच / जलाग्निबन्धनभ्रष्टा प्रव्रज्यानाशकच्युताः / ऐन्दवाभ्यां विशुध्यन्ति दत्त्वा धेनुं तथा वृषम्
bhūdānādinirūpaṇaṃ nāma dvicatvāriṃśatamo 'dhyāyaḥ śrīviṣṇuruvāca / jalāgnibandhanabhraṣṭā pravrajyānāśakacyutāḥ / aindavābhyāṃ viśudhyanti dattvā dhenuṃ tathā vṛṣam
พระศรีวิษณุตรัสว่า—ผู้ที่ตกอยู่ในโทษเกี่ยวกับน้ำ ไฟ หรือการคุมขังอันไม่ชอบ และผู้ที่เสื่อมจากธรรมแห่งการสละเรือนกับระเบียบวัตรศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ย่อมบริสุทธิ์ด้วยการชำระแบบจันทร–สุริยะ โดยถวายทานโคและโคเพศผู้ (วृषภ)
Lord Vishnu
Concept: Prāyaścitta and dāna as means to restore ritual and moral purity after specific lapses.
Vedantic Theme: Karma (doṣa–śuddhi) and the purificatory power of sattvic acts offered in a dharmic frame.
Application: When one violates restraints or incurs impurity, undertake appropriate expiation and compensate through ethical giving (e.g., cow/bull-dāna) under guidance of dharma authorities.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/Dharma-kanda): prāyaścitta and dāna sections; go-dāna and vṛṣa-dāna praised as purifiers in multiple adhyāyas
This verse presents dhenu-dāna as a direct means of purification (prāyaścitta), especially for serious lapses and ritual/ethical faults, indicating charity as a dharmic remedy.
It links specific categories of transgression (faults tied to water, fire, confinement, and lapses from renunciant/ritual discipline) with a prescribed corrective act—gifting a cow and a bull—framed as lunar and solar purification.
Treat harm done through negligence or misuse of essential forces (like water/fire/power over others) as requiring restitution: practice responsible conduct, support ethical charities/care for cattle or equivalent welfare causes, and restore disciplined spiritual practice.