Shloka 163

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / त्र्यहं प्रातस्त्र्यहं सायं त्र्यहमद्यादयाचितम् / उपवासस्त्र्यहञ्चैव एष कृच्छ्र उदाहृतः

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / tryahaṃ prātastryahaṃ sāyaṃ tryahamadyādayācitam / upavāsastryahañcaiva eṣa kṛcchra udāhṛtaḥ

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: For three days one should eat in the morning; for three days, in the evening; for three days, only what comes unasked; and for three days one should fast—this is declared to be the kṛcchra expiatory austerity.

Word by Word

• श्रीकृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् कृष्णः)

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

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (त्रयः अह्नः = three days)

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: in the morning)

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु

• सायम्: in the evening
• सायम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सायम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in the evening)

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु

• अद्यāt: should eat
• अद्यāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अयाचितम्: unsolicited (not begged for)
• अयाचितम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-याचित (कृदन्त; याच्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Karma (Extent/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (indeed/just)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कृच्छ्रः: (is) the Kṛcchra (penance)
• कृच्छ्रः: Pratijna/Predicate (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उदाहृतः: is declared/said
• उदाहृतः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as the instructing divine speaker, identified with Lord Viṣṇu in Purāṇic discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṛcchra prāyaścitta: a 12-day graduated discipline—morning meals (3), evening meals (3), unsolicited food only (3), then fasting (3).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi through regulated consumption; mastery over indriyas as preparation for inner steadiness.

Application: If undertaking kṛcchra, follow the exact sequence and duration; maintain honesty in ‘ayācita’ (not soliciting) and steadiness in fasting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.162 (question); Garuda Purana 2.4.164-165 (related kṛcchra variants)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

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

This verse defines the structured kṛcchra penance—regulated eating followed by fasting—as a recognized method of purification and expiation within dharma-based practice.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on afterlife and karma?

By prescribing prāyaścitta, the text emphasizes that karmic burdens can be reduced through disciplined austerity, supporting ethical purification that is repeatedly linked with favorable post-death outcomes in Purāṇic teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined restraint—such as mindful eating, accepting simple food without craving, and periodic fasting—performed with sincerity and guidance, as a way to cultivate self-control and moral clarity.