If the sin committed in a holy centre is only for livelihood, the merit will destroy that sin. Merit accords prosperity and quells physical, verbal and mental sins.
The mental sin can be wiped off only by meditation and not otherwise. The verbal sin is wiped off by Japas and the physical sin by forcefully causing the emaciation of the body.
दानाद्धनकृतं नश्येन्नाऽन्यथाकल्पकोटिभिः । क्वचित्पापेन पुण्यं च वृद्धिपूर्वेण नश्यति 1.12.४० ।
Sins committed by means of wealth can be wiped off by making charitable gifts and not otherwise, though crores of Kalpas (Aeons) may elapse. In some places the increasing sin destroys the merit.