Shloka 72

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

अनादिष्टेषु पापेषु शुद्धिश्चान्द्रायणेन तु / धर्मार्थो यश्चरेदेतच्चन्द्रस्यैति सलोकताम्

Transliteration

anādiṣṭeṣu pāpeṣu śuddhiścāndrāyaṇena tu / dharmārtho yaścaredetaccandrasyaiti salokatām

Translation

للذنوب التي لم تُعيَّن لها كفّارة مخصوصة، تتحقق الطهارة بنذر «تشاندرايانا» (Cāndrāyaṇa). ومن يعمل به ابتغاءَ الدَّرما يبلغ عالمًا كعالم تشاندرا (القمر).

Word by Word

• anādiṣṭeṣu: in unspecified
• anādiṣṭeṣu: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-ādiṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √diś (धातु) + kta, with negation an-)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; adjective qualifying pāpeṣu; meaning 'not prescribed/unspecified'

• pāpeṣu: sins
• pāpeṣu: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• śuddhiḥ: purification
• śuddhiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• cāndrāyaṇena: by the Cāndrāyaṇa (penance)
• cāndrāyaṇena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāndrāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• dharmārthaḥ: one whose aim is dharma
• dharmārthaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + artha (प्रातिपदिक; components)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध: 'artha of dharma' i.e., one whose aim is dharma

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• caret: should perform/practise
• caret: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of caret

• candrasya: of the Moon (Candra)
• candrasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• aiti: goes/attains
• aiti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• salokatām: the state of being in the same world
• salokatām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa-lokatā (प्रातिपदिक; sa- prefix + lokatā)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; abstract noun meaning 'state of being in the same world'

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For unclassified sins, Cāndrāyaṇa functions as a general expiation; dharma-intent yields celestial fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (lawful fruition of action) under dharma; purification as eligibility for higher states.

Application: When unsure of a specific expiation, undertake a regulated, traditional vow under guidance, with dharma as the motive rather than display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (Prāyaścitta context: Cāndrāyaṇa, Kṛcchra and related vows)

Characters & Entities

• Candra

FAQs

What is the importance of Cāndrāyaṇa prāyaścitta in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents Cāndrāyaṇa as a general expiation when a specific remedy for a sin is not stated, emphasizing it as a reliable purification practice.

How does this verse explain spiritual progress or destiny after death?

It links disciplined expiation done with dharmic intent to a posthumous attainment—salokya with Candra—showing that ethical motivation and penance shape one’s afterlife destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When unsure how to atone for a wrongdoing, adopt a sincere, disciplined corrective vow or austerity guided by dharma and qualified counsel, focusing on inner reform rather than mere ritual.