Shloka 32

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

पयसा वापि मासेन पराकेणापि वा पुनः / ऋषभैकं सहस्रं गा दद्यात्क्षत्त्रवधे पुमान्

Transliteration

payasā vāpi māsena parākeṇāpi vā punaḥ / ṛṣabhaikaṃ sahasraṃ gā dadyātkṣattravadhe pumān

Translation

لِكَفَّارَةِ قَتْلِ الكْشَتْرِيَّا، يَجِبُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَتَطَهَّرَ بِشُرْبِ اللَّبَنِ وَحْدَهُ مُدَّةَ شَهْرٍ، أَوْ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ تَوْبَةَ «بَارَاكَا»؛ وَإِلَّا فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ بِثَوْرٍ وَأَلْفِ بَقَرَةٍ.

Word by Word

• पयसा: with milk
• पयसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक-निपात (particle: 'also/even')

• मासेन: with (a) month (as duration/means)
• मासेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पराकेण: with the parāka fast
• पराकेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'पराक' = उपवासविशेष (a kind of fast/penance)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक-निपात (particle: 'also/even')

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'again/further')

• ऋषभैकम्: one bull
• ऋषभैकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारणार्थ: 'one (of) bull(s)'

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), बहुवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षत्त्रवधे: in/for the killing of a kshatriya
• क्षत्त्रवधे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'kṣatriya-slaying'

• पुमान्: a man
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/Subject), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta calibrates the moral weight of harm; dāna and vrata function as restorative discipline for varṇa-hatyā.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and adhikāra: actions bind and require purification; self-restraint and sattva-increase prepare the mind for higher knowledge.

Application: Treat harm as requiring concrete repair: undertake time-bound austerity (milk-diet/parāka) and restitutionary giving (supporting cattle/agrarian livelihood) rather than denial.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (Prāyaścitta for various killings; graded expiations by varṇa and species)

Characters & Entities

• Kshatriya

FAQs

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

This verse shows that serious wrongdoing is addressed through defined expiations—vows (like a milk regimen), austerities (parāka), and purifying charity (donation of cows)—to restore dharmic balance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By prescribing remedies for grave sins, it implies that unatoned actions weigh on the soul’s post-death journey; corrective rites and dāna reduce the burden of pāpa that would otherwise intensify suffering in Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat harm and injustice as requiring concrete repair: disciplined self-restraint, sincere penance, and meaningful restitution/charity—done ethically and under competent guidance—rather than mere regret.