Shloka 7

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

चान्द्रायणं पराकं वा द्विजातीनां विशोधनम् / प्राजापत्यन्तु शूद्रस्य पश्चाज्ज्ञाते तथापरे

Transliteration

cāndrāyaṇaṃ parākaṃ vā dvijātīnāṃ viśodhanam / prājāpatyantu śūdrasya paścājjñāte tathāpare

Translation

أمّا ذوو الولادتين (dvija) فتطهيرهم يكون بنذر تشاندرايانا (Cāndrāyaṇa) أو بكفّارة باراكا (Parāka). وأمّا الشودرَة (Śūdra) فالمأمور به لهم كفّارة براجابَتيا (Prājāpatya). وقد قال آخرون بذلك أيضًا بعد نظرٍ وتدبّر.

Word by Word

• cāndrāyaṇam: the Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• cāndrāyaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāndrāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• parākam: the Parāka penance
• parākam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• dvijātīnām: of the twice-born (classes)
• dvijātīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• viśodhanam: purification/means of purification
• viśodhanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• prājāpatyam: the Prājāpatya penance
• prājāpatyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prājāpatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tu: however/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• śūdrasya: of a Śūdra
• śūdrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तरवाचक (adverb: 'afterwards')

• jñāte: when known/once it is known
• jñāte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचन रूपे (locative absolute sense)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus/so')

• apare: others (other authorities)
• apare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-differentiated prāyaścitta: Cāndrāyaṇa/Parāka for dvija; Prājāpatya for śūdra; authority grounded in considered tradition.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and its remediation within dharmic order; tapas as a means to attenuate pāpa and re-establish inner steadiness.

Application: When purification is required, undertake the prescribed penance appropriate to one’s dharmic category per the text’s system; consult competent tradition/teachers for correct observance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama/ritual observance setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222: prāyaścitta catalog and śuddhi gradations

Characters & Entities

• Dvijatis
• Shudra
• Prajapati

FAQs

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

This verse frames prāyaścitta as a means of viśodhana (purification), prescribing specific vows/penances according to social duty categories to restore dharmic order after wrongdoing.

How does this verse relate to consequences of sin described in the Garuda Purana?

The Garuda Purana often links sinful action to post-death suffering; here it highlights remedial disciplines—Cāndrāyaṇa, Parāka, and Prājāpatya—as corrective measures intended to avert or lessen karmic and afterlife consequences through disciplined atonement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat wrongdoing as requiring concrete correction: adopt disciplined restraint (fasting, vows, charity, self-control) under guidance, and focus on sincere reform rather than mere guilt.