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Shloka 28

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

पैतृष्वस्त्रेयीं गत्वा तु स्वस्त्रेयां मातुरेव च / मातुलस्य सुतां वापि गत्वा चान्द्रायणं चरेत्

paitṛṣvastreyīṃ gatvā tu svastreyāṃ mātureva ca / mātulasya sutāṃ vāpi gatvā cāndrāyaṇaṃ caret

หากชายใดมีความสัมพันธ์ทางเพศกับบุตรสาวของป้าฝ่ายบิดา หรือบุตรสาวของพี่น้องหญิงตน หรือบุตรสาวของน้าฝ่ายมารดา หรือบุตรสาวของลุงฝ่ายมารดา เขาพึงบำเพ็ญตบะจันทรยาน (Cāndrāyaṇa)

paitṛṣvastreyīṃpaternal-aunt’s daughter (female cousin)
paitṛṣvastreyīṃ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpaitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + svastrīya/strīya? (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘daughter of father’s sister’ (paternal-aunt’s daughter); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
gatvāhaving gone (to)/having had intercourse with (contextual)
gatvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootgam (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) from √गम्
tubut/indeed
tu:
Connector (योजक)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात) adversative/emphatic ‘but/indeed’
svastreyāṃsister’s daughter (niece)
svastreyāṃ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + strīya/streya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘daughter of one’s sister’; Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular
mātuḥof (one’s) mother
mātuḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootmātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
evaindeed/just
eva:
Emphasis (बल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (निपात)
caand
ca:
Connector (योजक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय)
mātulasyaof the maternal uncle
mātulasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootmātula (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
sutāṃdaughter
sutāṃ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsutā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
or
:
Connector (योजक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात) ‘or’
apialso/even
api:
Emphasis (बल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात) ‘also/even’
gatvāhaving gone/having had intercourse (contextual)
gatvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootgam (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) from √गम्
cāndrāyaṇaṃCāndrāyaṇa penance
cāndrāyaṇaṃ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootcāndrāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
caretshould undertake/practice
caret:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootcar (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

Sūta (narrating traditional dharma/prāyaścitta teachings as preserved in the Kurma Purana)

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

C
Cāndrāyaṇa
M
mātula (maternal uncle)
ṣvasṛ (sister/aunt)

FAQs

This verse is not a metaphysical teaching on Ātman; it lays down dharma-based expiation. In the Kurma Purana’s broader framework, such prāyaścitta supports inner purity (śuddhi) and self-mastery, which are prerequisites for higher knowledge and yoga.

The practice highlighted is Cāndrāyaṇa, a disciplined vow involving regulated intake aligned with the lunar cycle, functioning as tapas (austerity). While not a meditation technique, it cultivates restraint (saṃyama) and purification that underpin yogic life in the Purāṇic path.

It does not directly mention Śiva–Viṣṇu unity. Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇa’s shared ethical ground across Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava traditions: purification through vrata and tapas is upheld as a common foundation for approaching the divine.