Shloka 13

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

भृत्याचाध्ययनादानं भृतकाध्या पनन्तथा / पारदार्यं पारिवित्त्यं वार्धुष्यं लवणक्रिया

Transliteration

bhṛtyācādhyayanādānaṃ bhṛtakādhyā panantathā / pāradāryaṃ pārivittyaṃ vārdhuṣyaṃ lavaṇakriyā

Translation

Lehren gegen Lohn; Gaben als Gegenleistung für das Studium annehmen; ebenso jemanden gegen Bezahlung lehren lassen; Ehebruch mit der Frau eines anderen; Heirat vor dem älteren Bruder (Verstoß gegen die rechte Ordnung); Zinsnahme/Wucher; und der tadelnswerte Handel oder Brauch im Zusammenhang mit Salz—dies alles gilt als verwerflich.

Word by Word

• भृत्याच: conduct of a servant; servile behavior
• भृत्याच: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आच्/आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भृत्यस्य आचारः)

• अध्ययन: study
• अध्ययन: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि + इ (धातु) → अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आदानम्: taking; accepting
• आदानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + दा (धातु) → आदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भृतक: hired person; wage-servant
• भृतक: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अध्यापनम्: teaching (as a profession)
• अध्यापनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि + आप्/आप् (धातु, causative sense) → अध्यापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पारदार्यम्: adultery; intercourse with another's wife
• पारदार्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-दार (प्रातिपदिक) + य (प्रत्यय) → पारदार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (परस्य दाराः)

• पारिवित्त्यम्: marrying before the elder brother; being a parivitta
• पारिवित्त्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) → पारिवित्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वार्धुष्यं: usury; money-lending at interest
• वार्धुष्यं: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि/वर्ध् (धातु) → वार्धुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• लवणक्रिया: salt-making/salt trade
• लवणक्रिया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लवणस्य क्रिया)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is harmed by selling sacred knowledge, transactional study-gifts, hired teaching, adultery, violating marriage order, usury, and censured trades (salt-related).

Vedantic Theme: Purity of means (sattvika ajiva) supports inner clarity; greed and lust intensify rajas/tamas, obstructing bhakti and jnana.

Application: Keep education and counsel ethically grounded; avoid exploitative interest, respect family order and marital boundaries; choose livelihoods aligned with integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of nindita-ajiva (censured livelihoods) and sexual misconduct as papa causes; Garuda Purana: dharma sections on brahmana conduct and purity of teaching/receiving

FAQs

What is the importance of listing sins like adultery and usury in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a dharma-checklist: it names specific behaviors and livelihoods considered blameworthy, helping a person avoid karmic fault and its consequences.

How does this verse relate to karma and post-death consequences described in the Garuda Purana?

By identifying concrete adharma (misconduct and improper earning), the text sets the moral causes that later chapters connect to suffering, judgment, and remedial rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep livelihood and relationships ethical: avoid exploitation (e.g., usury), avoid harming families through infidelity, and treat sacred learning as a duty rather than a commercial transaction.