Shloka 38

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

गर्दभं पशुमालभ्य नैरृतं च विशुध्यति / मधुमांसाशने कार्यं कृच्छ्रं शेषव्रतानि च

Transliteration

gardabhaṃ paśumālabhya nairṛtaṃ ca viśudhyati / madhumāṃsāśane kāryaṃ kṛcchraṃ śeṣavratāni ca

Translation

Durch die rituelle Darbringung eines Esels als Opfertier wird man von der Nairṛta‑Verunreinigung (südlich/dämonisch) gereinigt. Für die Sünde des Genusses von Honig und Fleisch soll man die Buße Kṛcchra vollziehen, zusammen mit den übrigen vorgeschriebenen Gelübden.

Word by Word

• गर्दभम्: a donkey
• गर्दभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्दभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पशुम्: an animal (as sacrificial victim)
• पशुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (as an apposition/qualifier)

• आलभ्य: having offered/sacrificed
• आलभ्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लभ् (धातु) → आलभ्य (ल्यप्-प्रत्यय, अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• नैरृतम्: (rite/oblation) for Nirṛti
• नैरृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैरृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘belonging to Nirṛti / to the south-west’ (object understood: यज्ञम्/देवता-सम्बन्धः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विशुध्यति: is purified
• विशुध्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• मधुमांसाशने: in eating honey and meat
• मधुमांसाशने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + अशन्/अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वपूर्वक तत्पुरुषः (मधु च मांसं च तयोः अशने)

• कार्यम्: is to be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya (Injunctive predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त, यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाव्य/विधेय—‘to be done/required’

• कृच्छ्रम्: the Kṛcchra penance
• कृच्छ्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रायश्चित्त-विशेषः

• शेषव्रतानि: the remaining vows (other observances)
• शेषव्रतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः—‘remaining/other vows’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific impurities and dietary sins have specific prāyaścittas; ritual action and austerity are karmic correctives.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual purity as a preparatory discipline (sādhana-catuṣṭaya’s śama-dama analogue in dharma form) enabling higher pursuit; actions yield consequences requiring remediation.

Application: Follow one’s tradition’s expiation framework for serious breaches; adopt disciplined fasting/observances for self-correction; be cautious with prohibited foods within one’s vows.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: directional-ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (catalog of prāyaścittas for impurities and sins)

Characters & Entities

• Nirṛti (implied by 'Nairṛta')

FAQs

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

This verse presents prāyaścitta as a concrete corrective path: specific impurities and dietary transgressions are met with defined penances and vows to restore ritual and moral purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By emphasizing purification and expiation, it implies that unresolved sins and impurities affect one’s post-death condition; prāyaścitta is taught as a means to lessen karmic burden before facing afterlife consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt conscious restraint in diet and conduct, and when one errs, undertake sincere corrective discipline (vows, austerity, charity, and repentance) aligned with one’s tradition and guidance.