History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.216

v5.c71.s1.216

Most digests and commentaries derive the word prāyaścitta relying on a verse (attributed to Aṅgiras¹⁴² by some) from *prāya* (meaning 'tapas') and *citta* (meaning resolve or firm belief), the idea being that prāyaścittas are so called because of their association with or emergence from a resolve to undergo *tapas* or because of the firm belief that it will be a means of the removal of sin. Various other derivations are suggested by some writers. The Bālambhaṭṭī¹⁴³ on Yāj. III. 206 quotes a half verse to the effect that 'prāya' means 'sin' and 'citta' means 'purification', which had been quoted by Pakṣadharamiśra¹⁴⁴, Bhaktūpādhyāya and the Todarānanda, but the Pr. M. (p. 2) says that the source or authenticity of that verse is doubtful. Hemādri refers to an unnamed bhāṣyakāra's explanation viz. 'prāya' means 'destruction' and 'citta' means 'joining together' and prāyaścitta means the making good what is lost and that the word denotes a *naimittika* action on sin.