Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

स तत्पापापनोदार्थं तस्यैव व्रतमाचरेत् / तप्तकृच्छ्रं चरेद्वाथ संवत्सरमतन्द्रितः

Transliteration

sa tatpāpāpanodārthaṃ tasyaiva vratamācaret / taptakṛcchraṃ caredvātha saṃvatsaramatandritaḥ

Translation

Um eben diese Sünde zu tilgen, soll man eben dieses Gelübde einhalten; oder andernfalls soll man ohne Nachlässigkeit ein volles Jahr lang eifrig die Buße Tapta-Kṛcchra üben.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• तत्-पाप-अपनोद-अर्थम्: for the removal of that sin
• तत्-पाप-अपनोद-अर्थम्: Hetu/Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अपनोद (प्रातिपदिक; अप√नुद्-भाव) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; समासः: तत्पापस्य अपनोदस्य अर्थः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजनवाचक)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic/only)

• व्रतम्: vow/penance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• आचरेत्: should practice/undertake
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• तप्तकृच्छ्रम्: the ‘taptakṛcchra’ penance
• तप्तकृच्छ्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; √तप्) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: तप्तं कृच्छ्रम् इति कर्मधारयः

• चरेत्: should perform
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

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

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; कालपरिमाणवाचक (duration)

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied/without negligence
• अतन्द्रितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक; न-तन्द्रित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; सः इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sin is counteracted by targeted expiation: repeat the prescribed vow for that specific fault, or undertake Tapta-Kṛcchra for a full year with unwavering attentiveness.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through tapas and niyama; transformation of vāsanā via sustained practice (abhyāsa) and vigilance (apramāda).

Application: Match remedies to harms; commit to long-term corrective discipline (a year-long program) with consistency and accountability rather than sporadic effort.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.52.12 (Cāndrāyaṇa); Garuda Purana 1.52.14 (sarvasva-dāna, Atikṛcchra)

FAQs

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

This verse teaches that sins are to be actively removed through appropriate remedial discipline—either by observing the relevant vow (vrata) or by undertaking a rigorous penance like Tapta-Kṛcchra—so one returns to dharmic alignment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to karma?

By prescribing specific expiations for sin, the verse implies that karmic burdens can be lightened through conscious corrective action, which supports a cleaner post-death journey by reducing obstructive papa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When one recognizes wrongdoing, adopt a sincere corrective discipline—ethical restraint, consistent spiritual practice, and restitution—performed steadily and without negligence, reflecting the verse’s emphasis on diligence (atandritaḥ).