Shloka 51

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

अन्तर्जले विशुद्धे च दत्त्वा गां च पयस्विनीम् / लोमभ्यः स्वाहेति ऋचा दिवसं मारुताशनः

Transliteration

antarjale viśuddhe ca dattvā gāṃ ca payasvinīm / lomabhyaḥ svāheti ṛcā divasaṃ mārutāśanaḥ

Translation

Nachdem er die Darbringung in reinem Wasser vollzogen und eine milchgebende Kuh verschenkt hat, soll er einen Tag lang allein von Luft leben—wobei er einen vedischen ṛc mit der Formel rezitiert: „svāhā, den Haaren (des Körpers)“.

Word by Word

• अन्तर्जले: in water; within water
• अन्तर्जले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर् (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (जले अन्तर्)

• विशुद्धे: pure
• विशुद्धे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + शुध् (धातु) → विशुद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular; विशेषण (pure)

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

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — having given

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

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

• पयस्विनीम्: milk-yielding
• पयस्विनीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; विशेषण (milk-giving)

• लोमभ्यः: to/for the hairs
• लोमभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन — Dative plural (for the hairs)

• स्वाहा: svāhā
• स्वाहा: Sambandha (Ritual particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: मन्त्र-निपात (exclamation used in offerings)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिबोधक-अव्यय — quotative particle

• ऋचा: with a ṛk-verse (hymn)
• ऋचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच्/ऋचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• दिवसम्: for a day
• दिवसम्: Karma (Extent of time/कर्म-कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular (duration)

• मारुताशनः: one who subsists on air (wind-eater)
• मारुताशनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक) + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मारुतं अशनं यस्य)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification is effected through śauca (pure water), dāna (cow-gift), tapas (air-only for a day), and mantra with svāhā as offering.

Vedantic Theme: External rite supports inner purification; prāṇa discipline and yajña-bhāva transform karma.

Application: Combine restitution (generosity), disciplined restraint, and sacred recitation; treat purification as integrated conduct, not mere recital.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/river or purified water-body (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (mantra + fasting + dāna prāyaścitta sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of giving a cow (go-dāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats gifting a milk-yielding cow as a powerful act of dāna used within prāyaścitta—supporting purification and merit when paired with mantra and austerity.

How does this verse connect to purification and the soul’s journey after death?

While not describing the afterlife directly, it prescribes expiatory purification (water-offering, go-dāna, fasting, mantra) meant to reduce sin and thereby improve one’s post-death trajectory governed by karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice ethical restraint and purification: perform sincere charity (supporting care of cows/food-giving livelihoods), keep periodic fasts with disciplined intention, and use mantra/recitation as a tool for mindfulness and moral correction.