Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
अज्ञानान्मातरं गत्वा तत्सपत्नीमथापि वा । स्वयमेव स्वमुष्कं तु च्छिंद्यात्पापमुदीरयन् ॥ ५७ ॥
ajñānānmātaraṃ gatvā tatsapatnīmathāpi vā | svayameva svamuṣkaṃ tu cchiṃdyātpāpamudīrayan || 57 ||
Kung dahil sa kawalan ng alam, ang isang lalaki ay sumiping sa kanyang ina—o maging sa ibang asawa ng kanyang ama—habang ipinagtatapat ang kanyang kasalanan, dapat niyang putulin ang kanyang sariling mga bayag.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dharma-śāstra style instruction)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It emphasizes that certain transgressions are treated as extremely grave (mahāpātaka-like) and require severe self-denying expiation along with explicit confession, underscoring accountability and deterrence in dharma.
This verse is primarily dharma/prāyaścitta-focused rather than a direct bhakti teaching; indirectly, it frames moral purity and truthfulness (open confession) as foundations that support sincere worship and spiritual discipline.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharma-śāstric procedure—acknowledging the offense (udīrayan) and undertaking prescribed prāyaścitta.