Shloka 58

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

वपनं मेख्ला दण्डो भैक्ष्यचर्याव्रतानि च / निवर्तन्ते द्विजातीनां पुनः संस्कारकर्मणि

Transliteration

vapanaṃ mekhlā daṇḍo bhaikṣyacaryāvratāni ca / nivartante dvijātīnāṃ punaḥ saṃskārakarmaṇi

Translation

剃髪、聖なる帯（メークハラー）、杖、そして托鉢により生き戒律ある行いを守る誓い—これらは、サンスカーラ（聖なる儀礼）が改めて行われるとき、再生族（両生）によって再び受持される。

Word by Word

• vapanam: shaving (of the head)
• vapanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapana (प्रातिपदिक; √vap ‘वप्’ from dhātu)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• mekhlā: girdle
• mekhlā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mekhlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• daṇḍaḥ: staff
• daṇḍaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• bhaikṣyacaryāvratāni: vows of living on alms (alms-begging discipline)
• bhaikṣyacaryāvratāni: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaikṣya + caryā + vratāni (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—(भैक्ष्यस्य चर्या) तत्पुरुषः, ततः ‘व्रतानि’ इति समाहार/निर्देश

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• nivartante: cease/come to an end
• nivartante: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√vṛt (धातु; निवृत्तिः)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• dvijātīnām: of the twice-born (Brahmin/Kshatriya/Vaishya)
• dvijātīnām: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वि + जाति (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

• saṃskārakarmaṇi: in the rite of (re)consecratory sacraments
• saṃskārakarmaṇi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃskāra + karmaṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—संस्कारस्य कर्म (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṃskāra renews adhikāra (eligibility) and restores disciplined life-signs of the twice-born.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra and śuddhi as supports for jñāna/bhakti; outer discipline as aid to inner steadiness (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).

Application: When a prescribed re-saṃskāra or corrective rite is performed, resume the corresponding vows and insignia with consistency (study, restraint, alms-discipline).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (Prāyaścitta/ācāra context: dvija discipline and expiation)

Characters & Entities

• Dvijatis
• Samskara

FAQs

What is the importance of repeating samskara-related observances in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that key marks of discipline—tonsure, girdle, staff, and alms-based conduct—are to be taken up again when a saṃskāra is performed anew, emphasizing restoration of ritual eligibility and dharmic order for the twice-born.

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

While not directly describing the soul’s journey, it supports the Purana’s broader theme that correct rites (saṃskāras) and disciplined observances uphold dharma, which in turn influences one’s post-death condition and outcomes described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat life-cycle rites and religious disciplines as purposeful commitments: when restarting or renewing a practice, re-establish the foundational vows and ethical restraints rather than keeping only external symbols.