Shloka 12

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances

Devanagari script

चान्द्रायणानि वा कुर्यात्पञ्च चत्वारि वा पुनः / पतितेन च संसर्गं कुरुते यस्तु वै द्विजः

Transliteration

cāndrāyaṇāni vā kuryātpañca catvāri vā punaḥ / patitena ca saṃsargaṃ kurute yastu vai dvijaḥ

Translation

Oder er soll die Sühneobservanz Cāndrāyaṇa vollziehen — fünfmal oder wiederum viermal; dies ist vorgeschrieben für den Dvija (Zweimalgeborenen), der Umgang mit einem Gefallenen (patita) pflegt.

Word by Word

• चान्द्रायणानि: cāndrāyaṇa penances
• चान्द्रायणानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; नपुंसक-द्वितीया-बहुवचनस्य (चान्द्रायणानि) विशेषणम्

• चत्वारि: four
• चत्वारि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्; (चान्द्रायणानि) विशेषणरूपेण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• पतितेन: with a fallen/outcaste person
• पतितेन: Sahakari/Karana (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त; √पत् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

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

• संसर्गम्: association/contact
• संसर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• कुरुते: does/has
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धक-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• द्विजः: a twice-born (brahmin etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Association (saṃsarga) with a patita (fallen/outcaste) incurs impurity/sin for a dvija, remedied by repeated Cāndrāyaṇa observances.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi through regulated conduct and tapas; karma shaped by saṅga (company) and its ethical consequences.

Application: Be mindful of harmful affiliations and enabling relationships; if one participates in unethical networks, undertake structured restitution and reform over time (repeatable disciplines).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.52.13-14 (further prāyaścitta options: Tapta-kṛcchra, Atikṛcchra, sarvasva-dāna)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Patita

FAQs

What is the importance of Cāndrāyaṇa prāyaścitta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Cāndrāyaṇa as a formal expiation that restores ritual and moral purity when a dvija incurs fault through improper association.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing expiation and purification, it implies that unatoned faults become karmic impediments; prescribed prāyaścitta helps prevent negative consequences that would otherwise affect one’s post-death trajectory described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep ethical boundaries and choose uplifting company; if one participates in harmful environments or influences, undertake sincere corrective discipline (repentance, restraint, and restorative practices) consistent with one’s tradition.