Shloka 35

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

मार्जारगोधानकुलपशुमण्डूकघातनात् / पिबेत्क्षीरं त्र्यहं पापी कृच्छ्रं वाप्यधिकं चरेत्

Transliteration

mārjāragodhānakulapaśumaṇḍūkaghātanāt / pibetkṣīraṃ tryahaṃ pāpī kṛcchraṃ vāpyadhikaṃ caret

Translation

പൂച്ച, ഗോധ (ഉടുമ്പ്), നകുല (മംഗൂസ്), ഗൃഹപശു അല്ലെങ്കിൽ തവള എന്നിവയെ കൊല്ലുന്നതാൽ ഉണ്ടായ പാപത്തിന് പാപി മൂന്നു ദിവസം പാൽ മാത്രം പാനം ചെയ്യണം; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ‘കൃച്ഛ്ര’ (അഥവാ അതിലും കഠിനമായ) പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• मार्जारगोधानकुलपशुमण्डूकघातनात्: for killing (cat, etc.)
• मार्जारगोधानकुलपशुमण्डूकघातनात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक) + गोधा (प्रातिपदिक) + नकुल (प्रातिपदिक) + पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डूक (प्रातिपदिक) + घातन (प्रातिपदिक; √हन्, णिच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'from/for the killing of cat, iguana, mongoose, animal, frog'

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), एकवचन

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Kala-adhvana (Duration/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (काल-अवधि/accusative of duration), एकवचन; द्विगु: 'three days'

• पापी: the sinner
• पापी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/Subject), एकवचन

• कृच्छ्रम्: the kṛcchra penance
• कृच्छ्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; तपोव्रतविशेष

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक-निपात

• अधिकम्: more/greater
• अधिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृच्छ्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• चरेत्: should practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahimsa extends beyond humans; even killing minor beings accrues pāpa requiring purification through dietary restraint or kṛcchra.

Vedantic Theme: Cultivation of compassion and sattva; reducing tamasic cruelty to steady the mind for higher pursuits.

Application: Practice mindful living (avoid harm to animals); if harm occurs, adopt short-term austerity, charitable acts, and behavioral safeguards (humane pest control, careful driving/walking).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (animal-killing expiations; milk-diet and kṛcchra options)

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta (expiation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that harmful actions (hiṃsā), even toward smaller creatures, generate pāpa and are addressed through specific prāyaścitta like milk-diet observances or Kṛcchra penance to restore dharmic balance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prescribing atonement for violence, it implies that unexpiated pāpa burdens the jīva’s karmic account and can lead to suffering in post-death states; prāyaścitta is presented as a corrective measure within dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice ahiṃsā as far as possible, avoid cruelty or careless harm to living beings, and when harm occurs, adopt sincere corrective discipline (restraint, charity, and ethical conduct) aligned with dharma.