Shloka : 92

अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वाऽपि गुरु़ वा लघु पातकम् ।

क्वापि स्यात्तर्हि तत्प्रायश्चितं कार्यं स्वशक्तित: ॥ 92 ॥

અને ક્યારેક જાણે અથવા અજાણે જો નાનું-મોટું પાપ થઈ જાય તો, પોતાની શક્તિ પ્રમાણે તે પાપનું પ્રાયશ્ચિત્ત કરવું. ॥ 92 ॥

And if one has committed a small or a big sin, knowingly or unknowingly, then one should perform the penance as per one's capacity. || 92 ||

Commentary

The great sages have mentioned six types of sins. Shri Hari has distinguished them as such: killing of a Brahmin, consuming alcoholic liquor, stealing the gold (wealth) of a Brahmin, adultery with the wife of one's Guru, company of the sinners who commit above mentioned four types of sins -these five types of sins are considered to be 'Mahapapam' i.e. the biggest sin. Similar to these 'Mahapapam' are 'Patak' which are to criticize scriptures and to kill a close friend. 'Uppatak's' are the sins of the lesser degree than the 'Mahapapam' which are to kill a cow, act of stealing, adultery with some one's else's wife etc. 'Atipaapam' are the sins which are bigger than the 'Mahapaapam' which are to have sexual relations with one's own mother, sister, daughter and daughter-in-law. 'Atyaadhikpaapam' are bigger sins than the 'Atipaapam' which are to treach the staunch devotees of Shriji Maharaj etc. The 'Prakirnapapam' are the five sins of lesser degree than the 'Uppatak' which are to consume onions, garlic etc.. A person who has committed the sin, a person who has encouraged to commit the sin, a person who has consented, a person who has helped and a person who has shown compassion towards the sinner i.e. who has protected the sinner who is absconding after committing the sin - all such five types of people are responsible for committing the sin.

Shri Harikrishna Bhagwan who is absolute Supreme God and a person who experiences His luminous form and who is also an expert in scriptures is called an 'Anadi Mukta'. God and Anadi Muktas are in communion and hence whatever they preach is called the code of conduct. Now, all the sins committed by a person are destroyed, if he performs the penance prescribed by God and His enlightened Muktas. If a person who doesn't have proper knowledge of astrology, code of conduct, diagnosis of a disease and that of penance and he prescribes the improper remedies then he becomes the biggest sinner. Now, if the committee to prescribe the penance assigns the incorrect penance, the sinner attains the purification by performing the prescribed penance. But the person, who had prescribed the penance otherwise, accumulates the sin.

Shri Hari has prescribed the penance for all the sins in 'Satsangijeevan'. Here, Shri Hari elaborates that the penances which are fatal to one's life are as per the opinion of ancient saints. But in fact, He prefers lifelong repentance and austerity as penance in above mentioned severe cases. Nothing is gained by giving up one's life. Therefore, the penance should be performed through repentance and without giving up one's life. This is advisable for the seekers on the path of salvation. Committing suicide is the worst kind of offence. Therefore, in Kaliyuga, Shri Hari has considered the act of repentance and severe religious austerity more benefical.

Moreover, the penance should be performed, if other people know about the sin committed. If the sin committed by a person is not known by other people, then he should recite the Mahamantra 'Swaminarayan' in privacy and should perform charity as per his capacity.