Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni
चान्द्रायणं चरेत् पूर्वं कृच्छ्रं चैवातिकृच्छ्रकम् / प्रपन्नः शरणं देवं तस्मात् पापाद् विमुच्यते
cāndrāyaṇaṃ caret pūrvaṃ kṛcchraṃ caivātikṛcchrakam / prapannaḥ śaraṇaṃ devaṃ tasmāt pāpād vimucyate
Una, dapat isagawa ang panatang Cāndrāyaṇa, at gayundin ang mga pag-aayunong Kṛcchra at Atikṛcchra. Sa pagsuko at pagkanlong sa Deva, ang tao’y napapalaya mula sa kasalanang iyon.
Sūta (narrating traditional dharma-teachings on prāyaścitta to the sages)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
By emphasizing taking refuge in the Deva (Iśvara), the verse points to a higher, purifying divine principle beyond mere ritual—suggesting that inner surrender to the Lord supports the soul’s release from the binding effects of pāpa.
It highlights tapas-based disciplines used as prāyaścitta—Cāndrāyaṇa (lunar fasting regulation), Kṛcchra, and Atikṛcchra—together with śaraṇāgati (surrender). In the Kurma Purana’s spiritual ethos, austerity is strengthened by devotion to Iśvara rather than performed as a purely mechanical act.
Though not naming Śiva or Viṣṇu directly, the verse frames the saving refuge as “Deva/Iśvara,” consistent with the Kurma Purana’s synthetic approach where the supreme Lord is approached through surrender—harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion within dharma and purification.