Shloka 15
Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems
चाण्डालश्वपचैर्वापि विण्मूत्रे तु कृते द्विजाः / प्रायश्चित्तं त्रिरात्रं स्यात्पराकश्चान्त्यजागतौ
cāṇḍālaśvapacairvāpi viṇmūtre tu kṛte dvijāḥ / prāyaścittaṃ trirātraṃ syātparākaścāntyajāgatau
اگر چنڈال یا شواپچ (کتے کا گوشت پکانے والا) پاخانہ یا پیشاب سے جگہ کو ناپاک کرے تو دوجوں کے لیے تین رات کا پرایاشچت ہے؛ اور اگر انتیاج سے چھوت ہو جائے تو ‘پراک’ پرایاشچت مقرر ہے۔
Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)
Concept: Degrees of impurity: environmental defilement vs. direct contact; corresponding escalation from tri-rātra to parāka penance.
Vedantic Theme: Ethical-ritual order (dharma) as a support for inner clarity; external śauca mirrors internal sattva, though ultimately transcended in higher jñāna.
Application: Differentiate between contamination of environment and direct harmful contact; respond with proportionate remediation and stricter safeguards for higher-risk interactions.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (gradation of penances: tri-rātra, kṛcchra, parāka)
FAQs
This verse states that if such defilement is caused by a caṇḍāla or śvapaca, the twice-born should observe a three-night expiation (trirātra prāyaścitta).
Parāka is a named, stricter expiatory observance; this verse applies it specifically when there is contact/approach involving an antyaja (outcaste), indicating a heavier ritual-impurity remedy than the three-night penance.
The verse emphasizes accountability after defilement and the importance of restoring discipline and cleanliness; in modern practice, devotees may interpret it as prioritizing hygiene, respectful boundaries in ritual spaces, and undertaking an appropriate form of self-restraint or remedial worship per one’s tradition.