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Shloka 21

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

निरातङ्कं द्विजं गां च ब्राह्मणार्थे हतो ऽपि वा / अरण्ये नियतो जुप्त्वा त्रिः कृत्वो वेदसंहिताम्

Transliteration

nirātaṅkaṃ dvijaṃ gāṃ ca brāhmaṇārthe hato 'pi vā / araṇye niyato juptvā triḥ kṛtvo vedasaṃhitām

Translation

നിരാതങ്കനായ ദ്വിജനെയോ ഗാവിനെയോ ബ്രാഹ്മണാർത്ഥം രക്ഷിക്കവെ ഒരാൾ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടാലും, നിയന്ത്രണത്തോടെ വനത്തിലേക്ക് ചെന്നു, വേദസംഹിത മൂന്നു പ്രാവശ്യം നിയമമായി ജപിക്കണം.

Word by Word
निरातङ्कम्free from fear/harm
निरातङ्कम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिरातङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘द्विजम्’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्
द्विजम्a twice-born (Brahmin)
द्विजम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
गाम्a cow
गाम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगो (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक
ब्राह्मण-अर्थेfor the sake of a Brahmin
ब्राह्मण-अर्थे:
Sampradana/Prayojana (Beneficiary/Purpose)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (ब्राह्मणस्य अर्थे/हिते)
हतःkilled/slain
हतः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootहन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अप्यर्थ (even/also)
वाor
वा:
Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक
अरण्येin the forest
अरण्ये:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
नियतःdisciplined/restrained
नियतः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootनि + यम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘(सः)’ इति कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्—संयत/नियमयुक्त
जुप्त्वाhaving recited (japa)
जुप्त्वा:
Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootजप् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); छान्दस/पाठभेदरूप ‘जुप्त्वा’ = जप्त्वा; पूर्वकालिकक्रिया
त्रिःthree times
त्रिः:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootत्रिः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; संख्यावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (thrice)
कृत्वःtimes
कृत्वः:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकृत्वस्/कृत्वः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (times; ‘कृत्वः’ = ‘वारम्’)
वेद-संहिताम्the Vedic Saṃhitā
वेद-संहिताम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवेद (प्रातिपदिक) + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य संहिता)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protecting a blameless brāhmaṇa or cow is dharmically weighty; disciplined forest-life and thrice-recitation of Vedic Saṃhitā serve as purification and reaffirmation of sacred order.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva is strengthened by tapas and śruti-japa; dharma-protection supports inner clarity conducive to bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Stand up for the vulnerable even at personal cost; then undertake sustained self-discipline and study to prevent relapse and to rebuild integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest hermitage/solitude

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.20 (brāhmaṇa-trāṇa as purifier)

Characters & Entities
B
Brāhmaṇa
D
Dvi-ja (twice-born)
C
Cow (Go)

FAQs

This verse treats the protection of a blameless brāhmaṇa and a cow as a high dharmic duty, significant enough that even death incurred in that cause is framed within a disciplined, purifying religious context.

By emphasizing restraint, forest-discipline, and Vedic recitation, the verse links one’s post-death welfare to dharmic intention and purification through sacred sound, rather than mere outward outcomes like injury or death.

Uphold non-harm and protection of the vulnerable, and when moral injury or conflict occurs, adopt disciplined corrective practice—such as sincere study/recitation, self-restraint, and ethical living—to realign with dharma.

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