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Shloka 25

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

मातृष्वसां मातुलानीं तथैव च पितृष्वसाम् / भागिनेयीं समारुह्य कुर्यात् कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रकौ

mātṛṣvasāṃ mātulānīṃ tathaiva ca pitṛṣvasām / bhāgineyīṃ samāruhya kuryāt kṛcchrātikṛcchrakau

หากผู้ใดล่วงละเมิดน้าสาวฝ่ายมารดา ภรรยาของน้าชายฝ่ายมารดา ป้าฝ่ายบิดา หรือบุตรีของพี่น้องสตรี พึงประกอบปลงบาปอันเข้มงวดที่เรียกว่า ‘กฤจฉระ’ และ ‘อติกฤจฉระ’

mātṛṣvasāṃmother’s sister (maternal aunt)
mātṛṣvasāṃ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmātṛ-svasṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): mātṛ ‘mother’ + svasṛ ‘sister’; Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
mātulānīṃmaternal uncle’s wife
mātulānīṃ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmātulānī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
tathālikewise
tathā:
Sambandha/Adverbial (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘thus/likewise’
evaindeed/just
eva:
Emphasis (बल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (निपात)
caand
ca:
Connector (योजक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय) ‘and’
pitṛṣvasāmfather’s sister (paternal aunt)
pitṛṣvasām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ-svasṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): pitṛ ‘father’ + svasṛ ‘sister’; Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
bhāgineyīṃsister’s daughter (niece)
bhāgineyīṃ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhāgineyī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
samāruhyahaving had intercourse with / having mounted
samāruhya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-ruh (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √रुह् with prefixes सम्-आ-; ‘having mounted/approached (sexually)’ (contextual)
kuryātshould perform
kuryāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada
kṛcchra-ati-kṛcchrakauthe Kṛcchra and Ati-kṛcchra penances (two)
kṛcchra-ati-kṛcchrakau:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkṛcchra (प्रातिपदिक) + ati-kṛcchra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व) naming two penances; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

Sūta (narrator) relaying the Kurma Purana’s dharma-śāstric injunctions

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

K
Kṛcchra
A
Atikṛcchra
P
Prāyaścitta
V
Varnāśrama-dharma

FAQs

This verse does not directly teach ātma-jñāna; it establishes ethical restraints (dharma) and purification (prāyaścitta), which the Purāṇic tradition treats as foundational supports for inner clarity that later aids Self-knowledge.

No meditative technique is specified; the emphasis is on tapas-based purification through Kṛcchra and Atikṛcchra—disciplines that function as preparatory austerities supporting yogic steadiness and moral restraint.

It does not discuss Śiva–Viṣṇu theology explicitly; it reflects the shared Purāṇic dharma framework upheld across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava contexts, where ethical order and expiation safeguard spiritual progress.