Shloka 37

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

वृक्षगुल्मलतावीरुच्छेदने जप्यमृक्शतम् / अवकीर्णो भवेद्गत्त्वा ब्रह्मचारी च योषितम्

Transliteration

vṛkṣagulmalatāvīrucchedane japyamṛkśatam / avakīrṇo bhavedgattvā brahmacārī ca yoṣitam

Translation

വൃക്ഷം, കുറ്റിച്ചെടി, ലത അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വള്ളി വെട്ടിയാൽ ഋഗ്വേദത്തിലെ നൂറ് ഋക്‌മന്ത്രങ്ങൾ ജപിക്കണം. ബ്രഹ്മചാരി സ്ത്രീയിലേക്കു പോയാൽ അവൻ ബ്രഹ്മചര്യനിയമത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വീണ ‘അവകീർണ്ണൻ’ ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• वृक्षगुल्मलतावीरुच्छेदने: in the cutting of trees, shrubs, creepers and vines
• वृक्षगुल्मलतावीरुच्छेदने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + गुल्म (प्रातिपदिक) + लता (प्रातिपदिक) + वीरुत्/वीरुध् (प्रातिपदिक) + छेदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृक्ष-गुल्म-लता-वीरुतां छेदनम्) + तस्मिन् (locative)

• जप्यम्: to be recited
• जप्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्य (कृदन्त, यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्—‘to be recited’ (gerundive/भाव्य)

• ऋक्शतम्: a hundred ṛk-verses
• ऋक्शतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—शतम् ऋचः (a hundred ṛks/verses)

• अवकीर्णः: (one who is) defiled
• अवकीर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + कृ (धातु) → अवकीर्ण (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्—‘fallen/defiled (by emission)’

• भवेत्: should become / would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student (brahmacārin)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—ब्रह्मणि चरति इति

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• योषितम्: a woman
• योषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Harm to living growth and breach of continence require expiation; brahmacarya is a protected vow with defined fall-status (avakīrṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Karma (adharma) binds; purification through mantra and restraint restores adhikāra for dharma and study.

Application: Avoid needless cutting of plants; if unavoidable, perform prescribed mantra-japa; maintain sexual discipline in student life and seek formal expiation if violated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (prāyaścitta-adhyāya context: expiations for specific acts)

FAQs

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

This verse shows that specific wrong actions—such as harming vegetation or violating brahmacarya—have prescribed remedial disciplines, often involving Vedic mantra-recitation, to restore dharmic purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By classifying actions as faults requiring expiation, it implies that unresolved transgressions burden the jīva with demerit (pāpa) that affects post-death consequences; prāyaścitta is presented as a corrective to that karmic burden.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid needless harm to plants and ecosystems, and uphold the ethical discipline appropriate to one’s life-stage; where harm occurs, adopt sincere corrective practices (repentance, restraint, and sacred recitation).