Shloka 18

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances

Devanagari script

प्रत्येकं तिलसंयुक्तान्दद्यात्सप्त जलाञ्जलीन् / स्नात्वा नद्यां तु पूर्वाह्ने मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

Transliteration

pratyekaṃ tilasaṃyuktāndadyātsapta jalāñjalīn / snātvā nadyāṃ tu pūrvāhne mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Translation

その都度、胡麻を混ぜた水を七度、手ですくって供えるべきである。午前に川で沐浴すれば、あらゆる罪過から解き放たれる。

Word by Word

• प्रत्येकम्: each, individually
• प्रत्येकम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + एकम् (अव्ययीभाव-समास)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘प्रत्येकं’ = one by one/each

• तिलसंयुक्तान्: mixed with sesame
• तिलसंयुक्तान्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिल + संयुक्त (कृदन्त); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (तिलेन संयुक्ताः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying जलाञ्जलीन्)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-शब्द, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे (qualifies jalāñjalīn)

• जलाञ्जलीन्: handfuls of water (water-offerings)
• जलाञ्जलीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलस्य अञ्जलिः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + त्वा-प्रत्यय (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having bathed)

• नद्याम्: in a river
• नद्याम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• पूर्वाह्ने: in the forenoon
• पूर्वाह्ने: Adhikarana (Time locus/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वाह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मुच्यते: is released
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• सर्वपातकैः: from all sins
• सर्वपातकैः: Apadana (Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पातक (प्रातिपदिक); कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वाणि पातकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: pūrvāhna (forenoon)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Repetitive ritual acts (seven jalāñjali with tila; forenoon river-bath) are prescribed as karma-based purification removing pāṭaka.

Vedantic Theme: External rites as supports for inner śauca; karma as a means to attenuate saṃskāras and steady the mind.

Application: Perform morning/forenoon bathing with mindfulness; offer water with sesame as a disciplined, counted practice (seven times), coupled with ethical resolve.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/riverbank

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tilodaka, snāna, and prāyaścitta procedures in dharma/pretakalpa-adjacent sections

FAQs

What is the importance of offering sesame-mixed water (tila-jalāñjali) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tila mixed with water as a purificatory offering; giving seven such water-offerings is taught as a dharmic act that helps cleanse sin and spiritual impurity.

How does this verse relate to purification and the consequences of karma?

It links concrete ritual discipline—river bathing at an auspicious time (pūrvāhna) and prescribed water-offerings—with the karmic result of being freed from sinful reactions (pātaka).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe regular cleanliness and sacred-time discipline; if following tradition, perform simple water offerings with sesame and maintain a consistent morning purification routine with ethical living.