Shloka 23

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

गर्भहा वा यथावर्णं तथात्रेयीनिषू (सू) दनम् / चरेद्ब्रतमहत्वापि घातनार्थमुपागतः

Transliteration

garbhahā vā yathāvarṇaṃ tathātreyīniṣū (sū) danam / caredbratamahatvāpi ghātanārthamupāgataḥ

Translation

Wer den Embryo vernichtet — je nach Schwere seines Vergehens — gilt, selbst wenn er große Gelübde auf sich nimmt, weiterhin als einer, der die Observanzen mit Tötungsabsicht betritt; daher trifft ihn die entsprechende Strafe für die Tötung des Ungeborenen.

Word by Word

• गर्भहा: one who destroys an embryo
• गर्भहा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ + हन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गर्भस्य हन्ता = destroyer of embryo), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• यथावर्णम्: according to (one’s) varṇa
• यथावर्णम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (यथा वर्णम् = according to class/color), अव्ययत्वेन प्रयोगः

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (so, likewise)

• आत्रेयी: Ātreyī (a woman of Ātreya lineage/name)
• आत्रेयी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्रेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (विशेष्य/नाम)

• निषूदनम्: killing, destruction
• निषूदनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि + सूद् (धातु) → निषूदन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चरेत्: should perform
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow/penance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहत्वा: without killing
• अहत्वा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत्वा (क्त्वान्त) with privative अ-
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), नञ्-पूर्वक (अहत्वा = without killing)

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

• घातनार्थम्: for the purpose of killing
• घातनार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: घातन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (घातनस्य अर्थः = for the purpose of killing), अव्ययत्वेन प्रयोगः

• उपागतः: having approached/come
• उपागतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + गम् (धातु) → उपागत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगः (having come/approached)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Garbha-hatyā carries graded culpability; mere performance of ‘great vows’ does not erase intent and act—penalty follows the offence.

Vedantic Theme: Karma is intention-linked (saṅkalpa) and action-linked; tapas without inner rectitude is insufficient.

Application: Do not use religious performance to mask harm; cultivate non-violence and responsibility; seek genuine repentance and corrective conduct proportionate to wrongdoing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma/prāyaścitta passages on garbha-hatyā and graded sins (general parallel themes)

FAQs

What is the importance of garbhahatya (foeticide) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats foeticide as a grave sin whose karmic weight persists even if one performs major vows, emphasizing intention and the severity of the act.

How does this verse explain karma and intention?

It indicates that merely adopting vows is not sufficient when the underlying intent is harmful; the purpose behind actions determines the karmic outcome.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate non-harm and responsibility: ethical choices and sincere repentance matter more than outward religious acts performed without inner transformation.