Shloka 42

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

अनियुक्तो भ्रातृभार्यां गच्छंश्चान्द्रायणं चरेत् / त्रिरात्रान्ते घृतं प्राश्य गत्वोदक्यां शुचिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

aniyukto bhrātṛbhāryāṃ gacchaṃścāndrāyaṇaṃ caret / trirātrānte ghṛtaṃ prāśya gatvodakyāṃ śucirbhavet

Translation

Wenn ein Mann ohne Erlaubnis (ohne vorgeschriebene Anordnung) mit der Frau seines Bruders verkehrt, soll er die Sühne des Cāndrāyaṇa vollziehen. Nach drei Nächten, nachdem er Ghee zu sich genommen hat, gehe er zum Wasser zum Bad; so wird er gereinigt.

Word by Word

• aniyuktaḥ: one who is not authorized/appointed
• aniyuktaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-niyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj युज् + नि उपसर्ग, क्त; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) नञ्-निषेधपूर्वक; अर्थः ‘अनादेशित/अननुज्ञात’

• bhrātṛ-bhāryām: brother’s wife
• bhrātṛ-bhāryām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘भ्रातुः भार्या’

• gacchan: going
• gacchan: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘गच्छन्’

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

• āndrāyaṇam: the Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• āndrāyaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āndrāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• caret: should perform/practice
• caret: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• trirātra-ante: at the end of three nights
• trirātra-ante: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘त्रीणां रात्राणाम् अन्ते’ (locative of time)

• ghṛtam: ghee
• ghṛtam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• prāśya: having eaten/consumed
• prāśya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prāś (प्राश्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); अर्थः ‘प्राश्य’ = भुक्त्वा/आस्वाद्य

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); अर्थः ‘गत्वा’

• udakyām: a menstruating woman
• udakyām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udakyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘उदक्य’ = रजस्वला/मासिकधर्मयुक्ता स्त्री

• śuciḥ: pure
• śuciḥ: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• bhavet: should become
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta (expiation) restores ritual and ethical purity after prohibited sexual conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Mala-śuddhi (removal of impurity) as a prerequisite for sattva and higher pursuit; karma’s stain can be attenuated by tapas and śuddhi.

Application: Avoid prohibited relations; if violated, undertake prescribed penance (Cāndrāyaṇa), observe restraint, complete the rite, and perform purificatory bath.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (Prāyaścitta/ācāra section; adjacent verses on expiations)

FAQs

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

This verse shows prāyaścitta as a corrective dharmic remedy: specific misconduct is met with a defined vow (Cāndrāyaṇa) and a purification sequence to restore ritual and moral purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links actions to consequences and remediation: wrongful conduct requires expiation, implying that unaddressed sins burden the jīva and affect post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It reinforces sexual ethics and accountability: avoid prohibited relationships, and when wrongdoing occurs, seek sincere correction through confession, restraint, and appropriate religious/ethical remediation under competent guidance.