Shloka 53

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

सुरापः स्वर्णहारी च रुद्रजापी जले स्थितः / सहस्रशीर्षाजप्येन मुच्यते गुरुतल्पगः

Transliteration

surāpaḥ svarṇahārī ca rudrajāpī jale sthitaḥ / sahasraśīrṣājapyena mucyate gurutalpagaḥ

Translation

Peminum arak, pencuri emas, dan orang yang mengulang mantra Rudra sambil berdiri di dalam air—dengan japa himne Sahasraśīrṣa, bahkan pelanggar ranjang guru (gurutaḷpaga) pun dilepaskan daripada beban dosa.

Word by Word

• सुरापः: a liquor-drinker
• सुरापः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा + प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सुरां पिबति इति (drinker of liquor)

• स्वर्णहारी: a gold-stealer
• स्वर्णहारी: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण + हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्वर्णं हरति इति (stealer of gold)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रुद्रजापी: a reciter of the Rudra (hymn)
• रुद्रजापी: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + जापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रुद्रं जपति इति (one who recites Rudra)

• जले: in water
• जले: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्थितः: standing
• स्थितः: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्थित (standing/being)

• सहस्रशीर्षाजप्येन: by (the) Sahasraśīrṣa recitation
• सहस्रशीर्षाजप्येन: करण (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्रशीर्ष + जप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; सहस्रशीर्षसूक्तस्य जप्येन (by the recitation of the Sahasraśīrṣa hymn)

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• गुरुतल्पगः: one who violates the guru’s bed
• गुरुतल्पगः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुतल्प + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुरुतल्पं गच्छति/सेवते इति (violator of the guru’s bed)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even severe transgressions are mitigated through prescribed expiation combining austerity and Vedic mantra-japa.

Vedantic Theme: Reorientation from adharma to ṛta through śabda (Veda) and tapas; purification of karma-vāsanā via disciplined practice.

Application: For grave wrongdoing, seek restitution and ethical repair, then undertake structured prayāścitta (mantra-japa, austerity) under competent tradition-bearers; avoid using expiation as a license to repeat harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/riverbank purification site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (series of expiations: homa, prāṇāyāma, Rudra-japa, sandhyā)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta (atonement) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents prāyaścitta as a dharmic remedy: specific mantra-japa and discipline are taught as means to lessen or remove the karmic weight of even grave transgressions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to sin?

It implies that severe sins bind the soul through karmic consequence, but prescribed expiations—here, japa (including the Sahasraśīrṣa) and austerity-like observance (standing in water)—can purify and support release from that bondage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt accountability and ethical restraint, and when wrongdoing occurs, pursue sincere correction—repentance, disciplined spiritual practice (japa), and making amends—rather than denial or repetition of harm.