Shloka 38

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

मयरमेषघाती च अहोरात्रेण शुध्यति / पक्षिणः सकलान्हत्वा अहोरात्रेण शुध्यति

Transliteration

mayarameṣaghātī ca ahorātreṇa śudhyati / pakṣiṇaḥ sakalānhatvā ahorātreṇa śudhyati

Translation

Wer einen Pfau oder einen Widder tötet, wird innerhalb eines Tages und einer Nacht gereinigt. Ebenso wird selbst nach dem Töten aller Vögel innerhalb eines Tages und einer Nacht Reinigung erlangt.

Word by Word

• मयरमेषघाती: one who kills a peacock and a ram
• मयरमेषघाती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मयर + मेष + घातिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: मयरं मेषं च घातयति इति (killer of peacock and ram)

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

• अहोरात्रेण: by (the lapse of) a day and night
• अहोरात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• शुध्यति: is purified
• शुध्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पक्षिणः: (one who kills) birds / bird(s) (as class)
• पक्षिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• सकलान्: all
• सकलान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय-भाव (indeclinable verbal)

• अहोरात्रेण: by a day and night
• अहोरात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• शुध्यति: is purified
• शुध्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta can ritually neutralize specific harms; time-bound penance restores eligibility for dharmic life.

Vedantic Theme: Karma is modifiable in its experiential outcome through prescribed expiation; emphasis on śāstra-guided purification within saṃsāra.

Application: Avoid harm; if harm occurs, undertake timely, text-sanctioned atonement and recommit to ahiṃsā and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107.39 (graded penances for killing beings)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights graded karmic consequences and the idea that certain acts incur comparatively light impurity, removable quickly (within an ahorātra), illustrating how the text classifies sins and their purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Khanda’s broader framework, karmic deeds are weighed and mapped to specific results; this verse contributes by indicating that some violent acts are considered minor and do not bind the soul for long when purification is undertaken.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid harm to living beings where possible, and if harm occurs (directly or indirectly), respond with ethical correction—restraint, compassion, and prescribed acts of purification/atonement aligned with one’s tradition.