Shloka 48

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चितं प्रकल्प्यं स्याद्यत्र योक्ता तु निष्कृतिः / गर्भत्यागो भर्तृनिन्दा स्त्रीणां पतनकारणम्

Transliteration

prāyaścitaṃ prakalpyaṃ syādyatra yoktā tu niṣkṛtiḥ / garbhatyāgo bhartṛnindā strīṇāṃ patanakāraṇam

Translation

Wo immer eine Sühne festzusetzen ist, soll das angemessene Mittel der Entsühnung angewandt werden. Für Frauen sind das Verwerfen der Leibesfrucht (Abtreibung) und die Herabsetzung des Gatten Ursachen geistigen Falls.

Word by Word

• प्रायश्चितम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• प्रकल्प्यम्: to be prescribed
• प्रकल्प्यम्: Vidhaya (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु) → प्रकल्प्य (कृदन्त, यत्/तव्यत्-अर्थे)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्/यत्-अर्थ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — to be prescribed/arranged

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — should be

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय — relative adverb (where)

• योक्ता: the applier; the one who should apply (it)
• योक्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युज् (धातु) → योक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक, कर्तरि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; कर्तृवाचक (one who applies)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — particle (contrast/emphasis)

• निष्कृतिः: atonement; expiation
• निष्कृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• गर्भत्यागः: abortion; abandonment of the fetus
• गर्भत्यागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गर्भस्य त्यागः)

• भर्तृनिन्दा: censure of the husband
• भर्तृनिन्दा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भर्तुः निन्दा)

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• पतनकारणम्: cause of downfall
• पतनकारणम्: Vidhaya (Predicate noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतन (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पतनस्य कारणम्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atonement must match the fault; certain acts are singled out as spiritually ruinous (patanakāraṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Karma binds through adharma; purification requires appropriate niṣkṛti (remedial action).

Application: Seek timely counsel for ethical breaches; avoid actions that fracture trust and life-protection duties; repair harm through suitable expiation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (niṣkṛti/prāyaścitta framing)

FAQs

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

This verse frames prāyaścitta as a deliberate prescription: when a fault occurs, an appropriate niṣkṛti (atoning remedy) should be applied rather than ignored.

How does this verse explain the consequences of actions (karma)?

It identifies specific actions as patana-kāraṇa (causes of downfall), implying that certain conduct leads to moral and spiritual decline unless corrected through proper expiation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ethical lapses as correctable through accountability and reform: acknowledge wrongdoing, seek restitution, and adopt disciplined conduct aligned with dharma.