Shloka 64

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

एकभक्तेन नक्तेन तथैवायाचितेन च / उपवासेन चकन पादकृच्छ्र उदाहृतः

Transliteration

ekabhaktena naktena tathaivāyācitena ca / upavāsena cakana pādakṛcchra udāhṛtaḥ

Translation

L’observance appelée « pāda-kṛcchra » (forme plus douce du kṛcchra) est déclarée consister en ceci: prendre un seul repas par jour, ne manger que la nuit, ne manger que ce qui n’a pas été sollicité (sans demander ni choisir), et jeûner.

Word by Word

• एकभक्तेन: with one meal (only)
• एकभक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (एकं भक्तम्)

• नक्तेन: at night
• नक्तेन: Adverbial (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय प्रयोगः; ‘रात्रौ’ इत्यर्थे कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (by night)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (in that manner)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• अयाचितेन: unasked-for (unsolicited)
• अयाचितेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + याचित (कृदन्त; √याच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) नकारार्थक-उपसर्गयुक्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भक्तेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• उपवासेन: by fasting
• उपवासेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• कन: (textual variant/particle)
• कन: Connector/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कन (अव्यय/पाठभेद)
• Form: पाठदोष/पाठभेद-सूचक; सम्भाव्यं ‘चान्य’/‘च’ इत्यर्थे निपातः (uncertain reading)

• पादकृच्छ्रः: the ‘pāda-kṛcchra’ penance
• पादकृच्छ्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• उदाहृतः: is declared
• उदाहृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + आ + √हृ (धातु) → उदाहृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः—‘is declared’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāda-kṛcchra: graded restraints—one meal, night-eating, unsolicited food, and fasting—forming a milder expiation.

Vedantic Theme: Reducing rāga-dveṣa by limiting preference and dependence; cultivating equanimity and self-control.

Application: Practice mindful eating: limit frequency, reduce indulgence, accept simple food without demanding; use fasting judiciously for self-regulation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (pāda-kṛcchra within prāyaścitta taxonomy)

FAQs

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

This verse defines pāda-kṛcchra as a structured, milder expiation using regulated eating and fasting, emphasizing self-restraint as a means of purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prescribing prāyaścitta, the text implies that ethical repair and purification reduce the burden of demerit (pāpa), shaping the soul’s post-death experience and karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined consumption—moderation, occasional fasting, and non-demanding acceptance of food—as a practical form of self-control and ethical reset.