Shloka 63

Devanagari script

तप्तक्षीरघृताम्बूनामेकैकं प्रत्यहं पिबेत् / एकरात्रोपवासश्च तप्तकृच्छ्रश्च पावनः

Transliteration

taptakṣīraghṛtāmbūnāmekaikaṃ pratyahaṃ pibet / ekarātropavāsaśca taptakṛcchraśca pāvanaḥ

Translation

Man trinke Tag für Tag der Reihe nach jeweils eines davon: erhitzte Milch, Ghee und Wasser. Ein Fasten für eine einzige Nacht sowie die Buße „taptakṛcchra“ (erhitzte kṛcchra) — dies alles wirkt reinigend.

Word by Word

• तप्तक्षीरघृताम्बूनाम्: of (the items) hot milk, ghee, and water
• तप्तक्षीरघृताम्बूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त + क्षीर + घृत + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तप्त-क्षीर-घृत-अम्बु-समाहारः

• एकैकम्: one each (one by one)
• एकैकम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषणम् (distributive: one by one)

• प्रत्यहम्: daily
• प्रत्यहम्: Adverbial (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम्

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• एकरात्रोपवासः: a one-night fast
• एकरात्रोपवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + रात्रि + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (एकरात्रे उपवासः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• तप्तकृच्छ्रः: the ‘heated’ kṛcchra (penance)
• तप्तकृच्छ्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (तप्तः कृच्छ्रः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• पावनः: purifying
• पावनः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तप्तकृच्छ्रस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification through regulated intake (taptakṛcchra) and a one-night fast as prāyaścitta.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic demerit is attenuated by disciplined action; tapas refines the antaḥkaraṇa for higher pursuit.

Application: Practice fasting and dietary restraint as penance only within one’s capacity; keep intention of purification and ethical correction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (kṛcchra/prāyaścitta gradations)

FAQs

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

This verse presents specific purificatory disciplines—regulated intake of heated milk, ghee, and water, plus fasting and the taptakṛcchra—showing that intentional austerity is prescribed to cleanse moral and ritual impurity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing purification through penance, the text implies that one’s post-death journey and spiritual condition are influenced by karmic cleansing and disciplined living, reducing impediments caused by impurity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined restraint—such as periodic fasting or simplified diet under guidance—paired with ethical conduct, using austerity as a tool for self-correction rather than mere ritual performance.