Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

पयो घृतं वा गोमूत्रं तस्मात्पापात्प्रमुच्यते / सुवर्णस्तेयी मुक्तः स्यान्मुसलेन हतो नृपैः

Transliteration

payo ghṛtaṃ vā gomūtraṃ tasmātpāpātpramucyate / suvarṇasteyī muktaḥ syānmusalena hato nṛpaiḥ

Translation

By taking milk, ghee, or cow’s urine, one is released from that sin. Even a thief of gold may be set free, though he be struck down with a pestle by the king’s men.

Word by Word

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc singular)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc singular)

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

• गोमूत्रम्: cow’s urine
• गोमूत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—गोमूत्र = गोः मूत्रम् (cow’s urine)

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (ablative singular: ‘from that’)

• पापात्: from sin
• पापात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter, ablative singular)

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed; is released
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (present, 3rd person singular, passive/middle)

• सुवर्णस्तेयी: a gold-thief
• सुवर्णस्तेयी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण + स्तेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सुवर्णस्तेयी = सुवर्णस्य स्तेयी (stealer of gold)

• मुक्तः: freed; released
• मुक्तः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (कृदन्त, क्त; √मुच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• स्यात्: would be; should become
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative, 3rd person singular)

• मुसलेन: with a club; by a pestle
• मुसलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• हतः: killed; struck down
• हतः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• नृपैः: by kings
• नृपैः: Kartr (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine, instrumental plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific expiations (milk/ghee/cow’s urine) are taught to cleanse certain sins; social/royal punishment functions as a karmic and legal corrective for theft.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and prāyaścitta as mind-purification; acceptance of consequences reduces egoic resistance and supports ethical reformation.

Application: When one errs, undertake concrete corrective steps (restitution, discipline, lifestyle reform) and accept lawful accountability; use purificatory vows as supports for lasting change.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prāyaścitta lists for various pāpas; royal punishment as deterrent (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Kings (royal authorities)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that specific purificatory substances (milk, ghee, gomūtra) are prescribed as remedies to loosen the binding effect of particular sins, emphasizing correction and purification alongside moral accountability.

How does this verse explain the relationship between sin and worldly punishment?

It distinguishes inner purification from external justice: a person may become spiritually released from sin through expiation, yet still face royal punishment for the social crime (e.g., the gold-thief punished by the king’s agents).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ethical conduct (especially regarding theft and misuse of wealth), and when wrongdoing occurs, combine sincere repentance and corrective discipline with acceptance of lawful consequences.