Shloka 59

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

स्नानमौनोपवासोज्यास्वाध्यायोपस्थनिग्रहः / तपो ऽक्रोधो गुरोर्भक्तिः शौचं च नियमाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

snānamaunopavāsojyāsvādhyāyopasthanigrahaḥ / tapo 'krodho gurorbhaktiḥ śaucaṃ ca niyamāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

സ്നാനം, മൗനം, ഉപവാസം, ‘ഓം’ ജപം, സ്വാധ്യായം, കാമനിഗ്രഹം, തപസ്, അക്രോധം, ഗുരുഭക്തി, ശൗചം—ഇവയാണ് നിയമങ്ങൾ എന്നു സ്മൃതം.

Word by Word

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• मौनम्: silence
• मौनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• ओज्या: ojyā (term as transmitted; possibly ‘strength/energy’ or a vow)
• ओज्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (as transmitted; meaning uncertain)

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study, Vedic recitation
• स्वाध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्व + अध्याय), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• उपस्थनिग्रहः: restraint of sexual organ (continence)
• उपस्थनिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्थ + निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• अक्रोधः: absence of anger
• अक्रोधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष (अ + क्रोध), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचन

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity, cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

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

• नियमाः: observances (niyamas)
• नियमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are said/are remembered as
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) / स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niyamas as personal observances: bathing, silence, fasting, Oṃ-japa, self-study, sexual restraint, austerity, non-anger, devotion to guru, and purity.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya support: discipline and purity as preparation for jñāna/bhakti.

Application: Create a weekly niyama plan: fixed snāna/śauca routine, short mauna period, periodic upavāsa, daily Oṃ-japa and svādhyāya, anger-management through pause and reflection, maintain guru/mentor reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.58 (yamas); Garuda Purana 1.105.60-61 (prāyaścitta kṛcchra)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Om (Praṇava)

FAQs

What is the importance of niyamas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines niyamas as concrete daily disciplines—purity, restraint, study, and devotion—that stabilize conduct and purify the mind for dharmic living.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing inner purification (śauca), self-control (upastha-nigraha), and angerlessness (akrodha), it points to the ethical-spiritual conditioning that supports higher states and a better post-death trajectory through dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a simple routine: cleanliness, regular mantra/Om recitation, scripture reading, mindful speech (periodic silence), moderated fasting, and conscious anger-management anchored in respect for one’s teacher or guiding tradition.