Shloka 3

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

लोकः प्रसीदेदात्मैवं प्रायश्चित्तैरघक्षयः / प्रायश्चित्तमकुर्वाणाः पश्चात्तापविवर्जिताः

Transliteration

lokaḥ prasīdedātmaivaṃ prāyaścittairaghakṣayaḥ / prāyaścittamakurvāṇāḥ paścāttāpavivarjitāḥ

Translation

وهكذا، بأعمال الكفّارة (prāyaścitta) ينال المرء رضا العالم ورضا نفسه، وتضمحلّ الخطيئة. أمّا من لا يقوم بالكفّارة ولا يعرف الندم فيجني ثمر آثامه.

Word by Word

• लोकः: the world/people
• लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रसीदेत्: should become pleased
• प्रसीदेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आत्मा: the self
• आत्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• प्रायश्चित्तैः: by expiations
• प्रायश्चित्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राय + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• अघक्षयः: destruction of sin
• अघक्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अघस्य क्षयः)

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राय + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अकुर्वाणाः: not doing
• अकुर्वाणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय) with negation अ-
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकाले (present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नकारार्थक उपसर्ग अ-

• पश्चात्ताप: remorse
• पश्चात्ताप: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय) + ताप (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद), अर्थः: पश्चात् कृतः तापः (remorse)

• विवर्जिताः: devoid of, lacking
• विवर्जिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta reduces pāpa and restores harmony; absence of expiation and remorse leads to continued karmic burden.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through corrective action; necessity of remorse (tāpa) and inner transformation rather than mere external compliance.

Application: After wrongdoing, cultivate remorse, seek guidance, perform proportionate expiation and restitution; avoid rationalizing harm or suppressing guilt.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.2 (need for diligent prāyaścitta); Garuda Purana 1.105.4-6 (naraka destinations for sinners)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta (expiation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that prāyaścitta pleases society and the inner self and leads to agha-kṣaya—reduction of sin—making it a key method of karmic purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to karma?

It implies that unaddressed wrongdoing (without expiation and remorse) continues to bear karmic results, whereas expiation and repentance help cleanse the burden that would otherwise follow the soul.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Acknowledge faults with genuine remorse, make amends, and adopt disciplined corrective practices (ethical restraint, vows, charity, prayer) so harmful actions are not repeated.