Shloka 155

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

त्रीन्कृच्छ्रान्षड्द्वादश च तथा पञ्चदशापि च / प्रायश्चित्तनिमित्तानुसारेण विप्रवत्स्मृतः

Transliteration

trīnkṛcchrānṣaḍdvādaśa ca tathā pañcadaśāpi ca / prāyaścittanimittānusāreṇa vipravatsmṛtaḥ

Translation

Three Kṛcchra penances—of six days, twelve days, and also fifteen days—are prescribed, to be undertaken according to the specific cause that calls for expiation, as taught in the learned brāhmaṇa tradition.

Word by Word

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• कृच्छ्रान्: kṛcchra penances
• कृच्छ्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्/षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; (समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; (समासे/समुच्चये)

• च: and
• च: Connector (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपातः

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Connector/Adverbial (समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (likewise)

• पञ्चदश: fifteen
• पञ्चदश: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चदश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; (fifteen)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Connector/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/सम्भावना-निपातः (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Connector (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपातः

• प्रायश्चित्तनिमित्तानुसारेण: according to the cause/reason for expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तनिमित्तानुसारेण: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (…अनुसारेण = according to); समासार्थः: प्रायश्चित्तस्य निमित्तस्य अनुसारः

• विप्रवत्: like a brāhmaṇa / in brāhmaṇa manner
• विप्रवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (वत् = like/as)

• स्मृतः: is stated/declared
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘is stated/remembered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṛcchra penances of specified durations are to be undertaken according to the particular cause requiring expiation, as preserved in brāhmaṇa tradition.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and its rectification: intentional austerity purifies and re-aligns the doer with dharma; inner transformation through tapas.

Application: Consult competent tradition/authority to match the expiation to the transgression or ritual lapse; undertake austerity with sincerity, restraint, and ethical reform.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.154 (need for niṣkṛti after puttalaka cremation); Garuda Purana 2.4.156 (substitute offerings when unable)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Smṛti tradition

FAQs

What is the importance of Kṛcchra prāyaścitta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that Kṛcchra-type penances are standardized expiations and must be chosen based on the specific offense or ritual fault that requires purification.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and afterlife teachings?

In the Preta Kanda’s framework, moral and ritual impurities are treated as burdens affecting post-death consequences; prāyaścitta is presented as a corrective discipline to restore dharmic balance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle of “cause-based correction”: acknowledge the specific wrongdoing, adopt a proportional discipline (fasting, restraint, charity, confession), and realign conduct with dharma rather than applying random or performative penances.