Shloka 14
Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems
भुक्त्वोपविष्टो ऽनाचान्तश्चण्डालं यदि संस्पृशेत् / गायत्त्र्यष्टसहस्रन्तु द्रुपदां वा शतं जपेत्
bhuktvopaviṣṭo 'nācāntaścaṇḍālaṃ yadi saṃspṛśet / gāyattryaṣṭasahasrantu drupadāṃ vā śataṃ japet
Jika seseorang selepas makan masih duduk tanpa melakukan ācamana (sorokan air suci secara ritual) lalu tersentuh seorang Caṇḍāla, maka hendaklah ia menebusnya dengan menjapa mantra Gāyatrī sebanyak lapan ribu kali, atau menjapa himne Drupadā seratus kali.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Neglect of ācamana amplifies impurity risk; mantra-japa functions as prāyaścitta restoring ritual fitness.
Vedantic Theme: Śabda (mantra) as purificatory power: disciplined repetition reshapes mind and karmic residue, re-establishing sattva and adhikāra.
Application: Maintain small daily rites (like mindful cleansing after meals); if neglected, compensate with focused recitation/meditation and corrective routine.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (mantra-japa as expiation alongside fasting penances)
FAQs
This verse treats ācamana as a key boundary-marker of ritual cleanliness after eating; neglecting it makes subsequent contact with a ritually impure person require prāyaścitta through mantra-japa.
No. This verse belongs to the dharma/ācāra stream of the Garuda Purana and focuses on ritual purity and expiation (prāyaścitta), not the post-death route to Yama’s realm.
It emphasizes mindful transitions after meals (cleanliness and composure) and, when one violates one’s chosen discipline, restoring integrity through sincere corrective practice (such as prayer/recitation and renewed observance).