Shloka 41

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

महापापोपपापाभ्यां योभिशस्तो मृषा परम् / अब्भक्षो मासमासीत स जापी नियतन्द्रियः

Transliteration

mahāpāpopapāpābhyāṃ yobhiśasto mṛṣā param / abbhakṣo māsamāsīta sa jāpī niyatandriyaḥ

Translation

Wer großer und kleiner Sünden beschuldigt wurde — besonders durch Lüge — soll einen Monat lang nur Wasser zu sich nehmen, Japa üben und die Sinne streng zügeln.

Word by Word

• महापापोपपापाभ्याम्: by great sins and minor sins
• महापापोपपापाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापाप (प्रातिपदिक) + उपपाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः—महापापं च उपपापं च; करणत्वेन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• अभिशस्तः: accused
• अभिशस्तः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + शंस् (धातु) → अभिशस्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘accused/denounced’

• मृषा: falsely
• मृषा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृषा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverb)

• परम्: utterly
• परम्: Sambandha (Intensifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय—अत्यर्थे/पर्याप्त्यर्थे (intensifier: ‘excessively/utterly’)

• अब्भक्षः: one who takes only water
• अब्भक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—अद्भिः भक्ष्यते/भक्षयति इति (one who subsists on water)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Karma (Extent of time/कालाधिकरण-रूप कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कालावधि (duration)

• आसीत: should remain
• आसीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-आदेशार्थे लुङ्-रूपसदृशम् (आशीर्लिङ्/विध्यर्थ प्रयोगः), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; अर्थः—‘should sit/remain’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जापी: a reciter (of mantra)
• जापी: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; जपकर्ता (one engaged in recitation)

• नियतन्द्रियः: with controlled senses
• नियतन्द्रियः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (कृदन्त, नि+यम् धातु, क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—नियतानीन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When accused (especially falsely) of grave/minor sins, one undertakes a month of water-only living with japa and sense-restraint—purification through tapas and mantra.

Vedantic Theme: Tapas and dama (sense-control) purify the mind; endurance under blame cultivates titikṣā and sattva, supporting higher pursuit.

Application: When facing serious allegations, maintain disciplined conduct, avoid reactive harm, and adopt structured self-purification/ethical review; combine inner practice (japa/meditation) with transparent accountability processes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (prāyaścitta for accusations and purification by fasting/japa)

FAQs

What is the importance of prayaschitta (atonement) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents prayaschitta as a practical means of purification—combining austerity (water-only fasting), mantra-japa, and sense-restraint to counteract the karmic weight of grave and minor sins connected with falsehood.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to karma?

By prescribing expiation for serious wrongdoing, it implies that karmic consequences can be mitigated through disciplined corrective action, supporting a dharmic path that reduces suffering tied to sinful acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt truthful speech, and when one has caused harm through dishonesty, undertake a structured period of restraint—simple diet/fasting as appropriate, daily japa or prayer, and conscious control of impulses—paired with ethical correction.