Shloka 28

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

अतिकृच्छ्रं चरेद्दाता होता चान्द्रायणञ्चरेत् / कुब्जवामनषण्डेषु गद्गदेषु जडेषु च

Transliteration

atikṛcchraṃ careddātā hotā cāndrāyaṇañcaret / kubjavāmanaṣaṇḍeṣu gadgadeṣu jaḍeṣu ca

Translation

ദാതാവ് അതികൃച്ഛ്ര വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം; ഹോതാ (യാജകൻ) ചാന്ദ്രായണം ആചരിക്കണം—കുബ്ജൻ, വാമനൻ, ഷണ്ഡൻ, തട്ടിത്തടഞ്ഞ് സംസാരിക്കുന്നവൻ, ജഡൻ (ബുദ്ധിഹീനൻ) എന്നീ സാഹചര്യങ്ങളിൽ പ്രായശ്ചിത്തമായി.

Word by Word

• अतिकृच्छ्रम्: the very severe penance (atikṛcchra)
• अतिकृच्छ्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—अति + कृच्छ्रम् (avyayībhāva: very severe penance)

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

• दाता: the giver (donor)
• दाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• होता: the sacrificer/priest (hotṛ)
• होता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• आन्द्रायणम्: the Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• आन्द्रायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

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

• कुब्जवामनषण्डेषु: among the hunchbacked, dwarfs, and eunuchs
• कुब्जवामनषण्डेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + वामन (प्रातिपदिक) + षण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समासः—कुब्ज + वामन + षण्ड (itaretara-dvandva); अधिकरण (locative plural)

• गद्गदेषु: among stammerers
• गद्गदेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन (masc. loc. pl.)

• जडेषु: among the dull-witted/idiots
• जडेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन (masc. loc. pl.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (and)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Different agents bear different expiations: donor performs Atikṛcchra; priest performs Cāndrāyaṇa, in specified problematic cases.

Vedantic Theme: Karma is shared yet differentiated by role (kartṛ/ṛtvij); purification is achieved through tapas and regulated observance.

Application: When a rite is deemed defective, assign prāyaścitta according to responsibility (yajamāna vs. hotṛ/ṛtvij) and follow the prescribed vrata under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (prāyaścitta section contiguous to śrāddha/saṃskāra rules)

FAQs

What is the importance of Atikṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns specific expiations: the donor is to perform Atikṛcchra and the priest Cāndrāyaṇa, showing how Garuda Purana prescribes graded penances to correct ritual or dharmic lapses.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly—by emphasizing prayāścitta (atonement). In Garuda Purana’s broader ethic, purification through prescribed penance reduces karmic burden, which affects post-death consequences described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a principle of accountability: when a religious duty is performed incorrectly, one should make amends through appropriate corrective practice under qualified guidance rather than ignoring the lapse.