Shloka 3
Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)
पाषड्यनाश्रमाश्चैव महापातकिनस्तथा / स्त्रियश्च व्यभिचारिण्य आरूढपतितास्तथा
pāṣaḍyanāśramāścaiva mahāpātakinastathā / striyaśca vyabhicāriṇya ārūḍhapatitāstathā
Ebenso gelten als verwerflich die Häretiker und jene, die die Disziplinen der Āśramas aufgeben; ebenso die Schuldigen der großen Sünden. Auch Frauen, die Ehebruch begehen, und diejenigen, die in schweren moralischen Verfall geraten und „gefallen“ sind, werden dazugezählt.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)
Concept: Deviation from āśrama discipline, mahāpātaka, and sexual transgression are framed as causes of ‘fallenness’ with ritual consequences.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; adharma as obscuration leading to bondage and suffering.
Application: Maintain commitments of one’s life-stage duties; avoid grave transgressions; seek prāyaścitta and reform rather than continued downfall.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on mahāpātaka, prāyaścitta, and śrāddha restrictions (topic-parallel)
FAQs
This verse classifies specific grave transgressions (mahāpātaka and dharma-rejecting conduct) to indicate who is considered severely blameworthy in Yama’s moral accounting, urging adherence to dharma and prescribed life-duties.
By identifying categories of serious sinners, the verse implies that such persons face adverse post-death outcomes under Yama’s jurisdiction, contrasting with those who follow āśrama-dharma and moral restraint.
Maintain integrity in conduct (especially sexual ethics), avoid dharma-denying ideologies that justify harm, and live responsibly within one’s duties—so one’s karma supports a calmer death-transition and better post-death destiny.