Shloka 6

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

अवीचिं कुम्भीपाकं च यान्ति पापा ह्यपुण्यतः / ब्रह्महा मद्यपः स्तेयी संयोगी गुरुतल्पगः

Transliteration

avīciṃ kumbhīpākaṃ ca yānti pāpā hyapuṇyataḥ / brahmahā madyapaḥ steyī saṃyogī gurutalpagaḥ

Translation

وبسبب انعدام البرّ كلّه، يمضي الخطّاؤون إلى أڤيتشي (Avīci) وإلى كومبهيباكا (Kumbhīpāka)—مثل قاتل البراهمن، وشارب الخمر، والسارق، ومن ينتهك زوجة غيره، ومن يدنّس فراش الغورو (guru).

Word by Word

• अवीचिम्: Avīci (a hell)
• अवीचिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (hell-name)

• कुम्भीपाकम्: Kumbhīpāka (a hell)
• कुम्भीपाकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भी (प्रातिपदिक) + पाक (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (hell-name); तत्पुरुष (कुम्भ्यां पाकः/कुम्भीपाकः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापाः: sinners
• पापाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Hetu (Reason marker/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• अपुण्यतः: due to lack of merit; from sinfulness
• अपुण्यतः: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; तसिल्-अर्थे (from/owing to)

• ब्रह्महा: slayer of a Brahmin
• ब्रह्महा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु) + क्विप् (कृत्); समासः
• Form: क्विप्-कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता)

• मद्यपः: drinker of liquor
• मद्यपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पा (धातु) + क (प्रातिपदिक/कृत्); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मद्यं पिबति)

• स्तेयी: thief
• स्तेयी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक) / स्तेन् (धातु) + इन् (तद्धित/कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक नाम (thief)

• संयोगी: one who associates/consorts (with the above sins)
• संयोगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) + णिनि/इन् (कृत्)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरुतल्पगः: one who violates the teacher’s bed (sexual offender)
• गुरुतल्पगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + तल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक from √गम्); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गुरोः तल्पं गच्छति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Grave transgressions (mahāpātakas) lead to severe naraka results; ‘apunya’ (absence of merit) and active pāpa determine descent.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as inexorable moral law; adharma intensifies bondage and suffering; impetus toward śuddhi, restraint, and ultimately liberation-oriented living.

Application: Avoid the five great sins; cultivate safeguards: non-violence, sobriety, honesty, sexual ethics, reverence for teacher/lineage; seek immediate correction and guidance if violated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: naraka (hell realms)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.2-3 (prāyaścitta as remedy; neglect leads to consequences); Garuda Purana 1.105.4-5 (other narakas)

Characters & Entities

• Avici
• Kumbhipaka
• Brahmaha
• Gurutalpaga

FAQs

What is the importance of Avīci and Kumbhīpāka in the Garuda Purana?

They are named narakas (hell-realms) used to illustrate that severe, merit-destroying transgressions lead to specific post-death punishments governed by karmic law.

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

It links particular grave sins (mahāpātaka-type acts) to definite destinations (Avīci, Kumbhīpāka), showing that the jīva’s post-mortem experience is shaped by accumulated demerit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid the core ethical violations highlighted here—harm to the holy/learned, intoxication that leads to adharma, theft, and sexual misconduct—since the text frames them as spiritually destructive and karmically heavy.