Shloka 4

Vrata-Niyama: Fasting Purity, Brahmakūrcha, Naktāhāra, and Kāla-Nirṇaya

Ritual Timing

Devanagari script

कृच्छ्राण्येतानि सर्वाणि चरेत्सुकृतवान्नरः / केशानां रक्षणार्थं तु द्विगुणं व्रतमाचरेत्

Transliteration

kṛcchrāṇyetāni sarvāṇi caretsukṛtavānnaraḥ / keśānāṃ rakṣaṇārthaṃ tu dviguṇaṃ vratamācaret

Translation

A man endowed with merit should observe all these rigorous expiatory disciplines; and for the protection and well-being of his hair, he should undertake the vow in a doubled measure.

Word by Word

• कृच्छ्राणि: austerities/penances (kṛcchra rites)
• कृच्छ्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चरेत्: should perform/practise
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सुकृतवान्: one who has done good deeds / virtuous
• सुकृतवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-कृत (कृदन्त) + वत् (प्रत्यय) → सुकृतवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृत्/कृतवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle-like), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नरः: man/person
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• केशानाम्: of the hair
• केशानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रक्षणार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षणार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (for the purpose of protecting)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• द्विगुणम्: twofold/double
• द्विगुणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आचरेत्: should undertake/practise
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta (expiatory discipline) undertaken with merit and resolve; intensification of vow for specific protective aims (here, ‘keśa-rakṣaṇa’).

Vedantic Theme: Karma as purifier when aligned with dharma; disciplined action reduces rajas/tamas and supports sattva.

Application: When undertaking expiation, complete the full set of prescribed austerities; if a specific protective intention is stated in the tradition, intensify the vow proportionately and safely.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: vrata/expiation setting (home/ashrama)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prāyaścitta catalogues and vrata gradations by capacity and fault; Garuda Purana: bodily markers (hair, nails) as śauca-related concerns in vrata contexts

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse stresses that rigorous expiatory observances (kṛcchra) should be practiced as a dharmic means of purification and merit-building, indicating that disciplined vows are a core remedy for faults and ritual impurity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa setting, purification through vows supports dharma and merit (sukṛta), which the text repeatedly links with a smoother post-death journey and reduced suffering; this verse highlights disciplined observance as a preventive spiritual measure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a consistent, ethical discipline (vrata)—such as regulated diet, truthfulness, and self-restraint—and, when undertaking a vow for a specific intention, follow it with greater care and intensity rather than casually.