Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

पादं शूद्रस्य दातव्यमज्ञानादन्त्यवेश्मनि / प्रायश्चित्तं त्रिकृच्छ्रं स्यात्पराकमन्त्यजागतौ

Transliteration

pādaṃ śūdrasya dātavyamajñānādantyaveśmani / prāyaścittaṃ trikṛcchraṃ syātparākamantyajāgatau

Translation

Jika kerana kejahilan seseorang memasuki rumah golongan luar varṇa (antyaja), hendaklah diberikan satu perempat (pāda) kepada seorang śūdra; dan bagi perbuatan pergi ke kawasan/rumah antyaja itu, penebusan yang ditetapkan ialah trikṛcchra serta juga parāka.

Word by Word

• पादम्: a quarter/one part
• पादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; दण्ड/प्रायश्चित्तवाचक (quarter/part)

• शूद्रस्य: of a Śūdra
• शूद्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय—‘to be given/should be given’

• अज्ञानात्: out of ignorance
• अज्ञानात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ

• अन्त्यवेश्मनि: in the house of an outcaste/low person
• अन्त्यवेश्मनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राय (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विषय/विधेयार्थ

• त्रिकृच्छ्रम्: the ‘Trikṛcchra’ penance
• त्रिकृच्छ्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रायश्चित्तनाम

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Copula/अस्ति-अर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पराकम्: the Parāka penance
• पराकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रायश्चित्तनाम

• अन्त्यजागतौ: upon going to an outcaste (place/person)
• अन्त्यजागतौ: Adhikarana (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्यज (प्रातिपदिक) + आगति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण/अवसर (on going to an outcaste)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unknowing entry into a prohibited dwelling entails both compensation (a quarter share/gift to a śūdra) and austerities (trikṛcchra, parāka).

Vedantic Theme: Karma as social-ritual order; tapas as a means to neutralize demerit and restore inner steadiness.

Application: When you cross a boundary unintentionally, combine restitution (material/relational repair) with self-discipline (behavioral change) to prevent recurrence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: dwelling/locality

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (contact with antyaja spaces and expiations)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Shudra
• Antyaja

FAQs

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

This verse shows that the Garuda Purana pairs actions considered ritually improper with specific remedial penances (like trikṛcchra and parāka), emphasizing correction and purification rather than mere condemnation.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on sin and its remedy?

It presents a concrete rule: an unintentional breach (ajñānāt) still requires a defined expiation, illustrating the text’s broader framework of sins, degrees of fault, and prescribed atonements.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat mistakes—especially unintentional ones—with accountability and a corrective discipline (self-restraint, charity, and ethical conduct), aligning one’s life back to dharma.