Shloka 31

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

गौडीं पैष्टीञ्च माध्वीकं विप्रादिर्यः सुरां पिबेत् / सुरां पिबन्द्विजः शुध्येदग्निवर्णां सुरां पिबन्

Transliteration

gauḍīṃ paiṣṭīñca mādhvīkaṃ viprādiryaḥ surāṃ pibet / surāṃ pibandvijaḥ śudhyedagnivarṇāṃ surāṃ piban

Translation

Wenn ein Brāhmaṇa und die übrigen Dvija (Zweimalgeborenen) berauschenden surā trinken—sei er aus Melasse (gauḍī), aus Getreide (paiṣṭī) oder aus Honig (mādhvīka)—, dann wird der Dvija, der getrunken hat, gereinigt, indem er surā von der Farbe des Feuers trinkt (als strenge Sühne).

Word by Word

• गौडीम्: Gauḍī liquor
• गौडीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पैष्टीम्: grain-based liquor
• पैष्टीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैष्टी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• माध्वीकम्: honey-based liquor
• माध्वीकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माध्वीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• विप्रादिः: a brāhmaṇa and the like
• विप्रादिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (विप्रः आदिः यस्य/विप्रादयः) — 'a brāhmaṇa etc.'

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun: 'who')

• सुराम्: liquor
• सुराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

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

• सुराम्: liquor
• सुराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पिबन्: drinking
• पिबन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) → पिबत् (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) — 'drinking'

• द्विजः: a twice-born (brāhmaṇa etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शुध्येत्: should be purified
• शुध्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अग्निवर्णाम्: fire-colored
• अग्निवर्णाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः वर्णः यस्याः) विशेषणम् (सुराम्)

• सुराम्: liquor
• सुराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पिबन्: drinking
• पिबन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) → पिबत् (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Serious violations (surā-pāna by dvija) generate heavy demerit; expiation is intentionally severe to counteract the karmic stain and deter repetition.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyama and purification of saṃskāra; tapas as a corrective force to reorient the mind toward sattva.

Application: Treat addictive/intoxicating misconduct as a grave ethical breach; adopt strong corrective disciplines (abstinence, accountability, austerity) proportional to harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-legal setting implied (smṛti adjudication/penance context)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (prāyaścitta catalogue)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Dvija
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta for surā-pāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies common types of liquor and states that drinking them is a grave fault for dvijas, while also indicating a severe expiation (purification) prescribed for one who has committed it.

How does this verse explain dharma regarding intoxicants for the twice-born?

It treats alcohol consumption (gauḍī, paiṣṭī, mādhvīka) as a dharmic transgression for dvijas and frames purification as possible only through an intense, ritualized penance rather than casual regret.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as an ethical caution: avoid intoxicants that impair judgment and lead to further adharma; if a serious lapse occurs, undertake sincere corrective discipline, restitution, and guidance under competent religious/ethical counsel.