Shloka 19

Devanagari script

क्रोधात्प्रमादाल्लोभाद्वा व्रतभङ्गो भवेद्यदि / दिनत्रयं न भुञ्जीत शिरसो मुण्डनं भवेत्

Transliteration

krodhātpramādāllobhādvā vratabhaṅgo bhavedyadi / dinatrayaṃ na bhuñjīta śiraso muṇḍanaṃ bhavet

Translation

Wird das Gelübde (vrata) aus Zorn, Nachlässigkeit oder Gier gebrochen, so soll man drei Tage lang keine Speise zu sich nehmen, und der Kopf soll geschoren werden.

Word by Word

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन

• प्रमादात्: from negligence
• प्रमादात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• लोभात्: from greed
• लोभात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• व्रतभङ्गः: breaking of the vow
• व्रतभङ्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत-भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; व्रत + भङ्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्रतस्य भङ्गः)

• भवेत्: would occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition marker (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• दिनत्रयम्: for three days
• दिनत्रयम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time extent/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन-त्रय (प्रातिपदिक; दिन + त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कालपरिमाण/अवधि), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः दिनाः)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिरसः: of the head
• शिरसः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मुण्डनम्: shaving (tonsure)
• मुण्डनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be (done)
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Intentional or negligent breach of vrata generates demerit and disorder; prescribed expiation (three-day fast and shaving) purifies and resets the vow-holder.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as moral causality; tapas as a purifying counter-force; regulation of mind (krodha, pramāda, lobha) as prerequisite for sattva.

Application: If one violates a serious self-imposed discipline due to reactive emotions or greed, adopt a concrete corrective practice: short-term fasting/abstinence, humility markers, and recommitment with mindfulness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prāyaścitta rules connected to vrata-bhaṅga and restoration of merit; Garuda Purana: lists of faults (krodha, lobha, pramāda) as causes of adharma

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta for vrata-bhaṅga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames vow-breaking as a dharmic lapse that should be corrected through a defined atonement—three days of fasting and tonsure—so discipline and ritual purity are restored.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing self-control and corrective penance, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that ethical and ritual conduct shapes karmic outcomes and one’s post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat commitments and spiritual disciplines seriously; if you fail due to anger, carelessness, or greed, adopt a sincere corrective practice (fasting or restraint and a visible act of humility) and recommit to the vow with greater mindfulness.