Shloka 162

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

Devanagari script

गरुड उवाच / कृच्छ्रस्य तप्तकृच्छ्रस्य तथा सान्तपनस्य च / लक्षणं ब्रूहि मे स्वामिंस्त्रयाणामपि सुव्रत

Transliteration

garuḍa uvāca / kṛcchrasya taptakṛcchrasya tathā sāntapanasya ca / lakṣaṇaṃ brūhi me svāmiṃstrayāṇāmapi suvrata

Translation

Garuḍa said: “O Lord, pray tell me the defining marks of the Kṛcchra, the Tapta‑Kṛcchra, and the Sāntapana—of all these three, O you of excellent vows.”

Word by Word

• गरुडः: Garuḍa
• गरुडः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृच्छ्रस्य: of the Kṛcchra (penance)
• कृच्छ्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तप्तकृच्छ्रस्य: of the Taptakṛcchra (heated kṛcchra)
• तप्तकृच्छ्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त, तप्-धातु) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (तप्तः कृच्छ्रः)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक (also/likewise)

• सान्तपनस्य: of the Sāntapana (penance)
• सान्तपनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्तपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• लक्षणम्: the characteristics/definition
• लक्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: to me / my
• मे: Sampradana (Beneficiary/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive) एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• स्वामिन्: O master
• स्वामिन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• त्रयाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/समुच्चयार्थ (also/even)

• सुव्रत: O one of good vows
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सुन्दरं व्रतं यस्य)

Speaker

Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Definition and taxonomy of prāyaścitta-vratas (kṛcchra, tapta-kṛcchra, sāntapana).

Vedantic Theme: Purification of antaḥkaraṇa through niyama; karma-śuddhi as support for jñāna/bhakti.

Application: Seek precise guidance before undertaking expiatory vows; follow an authorized, well-defined regimen rather than improvising.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.163-165 (definitions of the three kṛcchras); Garuda Purana 2.4.166 (context: procedure around difficult death)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of Kṛcchra, Tapta-Kṛcchra, and Sāntapana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces a focused inquiry into three classical prāyaścittas (expiatory disciplines), indicating that specific sins and karmic burdens are addressed through clearly defined penances within the Purāṇic dharma framework.

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

By asking for the ‘lakṣaṇa’ (technical definitions) of expiatory rites, Garuḍa points to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching: one’s post-death condition is shaped by karma, and purification through prāyaścitta is presented as a means to reduce suffering and negative outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

The takeaway is to treat ethical lapses seriously: seek correction through disciplined restraint, repentance, and dharmic living—ideally guided by competent tradition and conscience—rather than ignoring wrongdoing.