Shloka 13

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

क्षत्त्रजातिः सान्तपनं षड्द्विरात्रं परे तथा / एकवृक्ष तु चण्डालः प्रमादाद्ब्राह्मणो यदि / फलं भक्षयते तत्र अहोरात्रेण शुध्यति

Transliteration

kṣattrajātiḥ sāntapanaṃ ṣaḍdvirātraṃ pare tathā / ekavṛkṣa tu caṇḍālaḥ pramādādbrāhmaṇo yadi / phalaṃ bhakṣayate tatra ahorātreṇa śudhyati

Translation

ക്ഷത്രിയനു ആറു ദിന-രാത്രികളുടെ ‘സാന്തപന’ പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം വിധിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു; മറ്റുള്ളവർക്കും ശാസ്ത്രോക്തമായി അതുപോലെ. എന്നാൽ അശ്രദ്ധവശാൽ ഒരു ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ ചണ്ഡാലന്റെ വൃക്ഷഫലം ഭക്ഷിച്ചാൽ, അവൻ ഒരു അഹോരാത്രംകൊണ്ട് ശുദ്ധനാകും.

Word by Word

• क्षत्त्रजातिः: a Kshatriya by birth
• क्षत्त्रजातिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्र-जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षत्त्रस्य जातिः)

• सान्तपनम्: the Sāntapana penance
• सान्तपनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्तपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (प्रायश्चित्त-नाम)

• षड्द्विरात्रम्: (for) six two-night periods
• षड्द्विरात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + द्विरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षड्-द्विरात्रम् = six periods of two nights)

• परे: others
• परे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘अन्ये’ इत्यर्थे

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (thus/likewise)

• एकवृक्षः: a single tree (one tree)
• एकवृक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एकः वृक्षः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (contrast/emphasis)

• चण्डालः: a Caṇḍāla (outcaste)
• चण्डालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रमादात्: through negligence
• प्रमादात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha/Avyaya (condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त-निपातः (conditional)

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भक्षयते: eats
• भक्षयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• तत्र: there/in that case
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्ग-निर्देशक (there/in that case)

• अहोरात्रेण: by (one) day-and-night
• अहोरात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (अहः+रात्रिः)

• शुध्यति: becomes purified
• शुध्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual impurity incurred by inadvertent contact/consumption is removable through proportionate penance; intention (pramāda vs. deliberate) modulates expiation.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as subtle causality: actions and lapses create saṁskāra/adhikāra disturbances that can be neutralized by tapas and mantra, restoring eligibility for Vedic rites.

Application: Treat accidental lapses with prompt, prescribed corrective practice (fasting/penance), and re-establish daily purity disciplines around food and contact.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (Prāyaścitta section continuing: kṛcchra/parāka/sāntapana gradations)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Kshatriya
• Chandala

FAQs

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

This verse shows that the Garuda Purana treats ritual and ethical lapses with graded remedies—specific penances (like Sāntapana) calibrated by circumstance and social duty—so that purity and dharma can be restored without lifelong stigma.

What does this verse teach about accidental impurity in food?

It distinguishes inadvertent error (pramāda) from deliberate wrongdoing: when a Brāhmaṇa accidentally eats a fruit associated with a Caṇḍāla, purification is achievable with a short, defined observance—one full day and night—indicating a lighter fault due to lack of intent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages responsibility with compassion: avoid careless harm or rule-breaking, but when mistakes happen unintentionally, adopt a clear corrective practice (self-restraint, cleanliness, mindful diet, and sincere atonement) rather than guilt or harsh judgment.