Shloka 5
Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances
दत्त्वा चान्नं च विदुषे ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति / अश्वमेधावभृथके स्नात्वा वा मुच्यते द्विजः
dattvā cānnaṃ ca viduṣe brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati / aśvamedhāvabhṛthake snātvā vā mucyate dvijaḥ
By giving food to a learned person, one drives away the sin of slaying a brāhmaṇa; or a twice-born person is freed from that sin by bathing in the concluding ablution (avabhṛtha) of the Aśvamedha sacrifice.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)
Concept: Pāpa-kṣaya through dāna (feeding the learned) and śrauta-associated tīrtha-snāna; ritual and ethical giving as purifiers.
Vedantic Theme: Karma purification via sattvic acts; honoring vidyā and yajña as supports for inner clarity (though not replacing ultimate jñāna/bhakti).
Application: Practice generous, respectful support of learning and dharmic institutions; use ritual as a commitment device for ethical transformation, not as a license to repeat harm.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tīrtha/ritual confluence
Related Themes: Garuda Purana dāna-mahātmyas and tīrtha-snāna praises in dharma sections
FAQs
This verse shows that even grave sins are addressed through prescribed expiations—especially dāna (charity) to the learned and ritual purification—emphasizing moral repair and dharmic restoration.
By stating that brahmahatyā can be ‘removed’ through specific expiations, the verse implies that karmic burdens affecting the soul’s post-death fate can be lightened through dharmic acts performed while living.
Practice anna-dāna (offering food) and support genuine learning and teaching; more broadly, adopt sincere repentance, ethical reform, and disciplined religious practice as a way to counter harmful actions.