Shloka 15

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances

Devanagari script

पुण्यक्षेत्रे गयादौ च गमनं पापनाशनम् / अमावस्यां तिथिं प्राप्य यः समाराधयेद्भवम्

Transliteration

puṇyakṣetre gayādau ca gamanaṃ pāpanāśanam / amāvasyāṃ tithiṃ prāpya yaḥ samārādhayedbhavam

Translation

Pergi ke kṣetra suci—terutama Gayā dan seumpamanya—menghapuskan dosa. Dan sesiapa yang, apabila tiba tithi Amāvasyā (hari bulan baharu), menyembah Bhava (Śiva) dengan sempurna menurut tatacara, memperoleh pahala yang memusnahkan dosa.

Word by Word

• पुण्यक्षेत्रे: in a holy place
• पुण्यक्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; समासः: पुण्यं क्षेत्रम् इति कर्मधारयः

• गयादौ: at Gaya and the like
• गयादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; समासः: गयादिषु इति (गया + आदि) तत्पुरुष/समाहारार्थ; ‘etc.’-अर्थे

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

• गमनम्: going/pilgrimage
• गमनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक; √गम्-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• पापनाशनम्: sin-destroying
• पापनाशनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; √नश्-णिच्/भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः: पापस्य नाशनम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; गमनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अमावस्याम्: on the new-moon day
• अमावस्याम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावस्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• तिथिम्: the lunar day (tithi)
• तिथिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• प्राप्य: having obtained/reached
• प्राप्य: Purva-kala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातुः: प्र√आप् (to obtain/reach)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• समाराधयेत्: should worship/propitiate
• समाराधयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ√राध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• भवम्: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक; शिव-पर्याय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra, per common Garuḍa Purāṇa dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sin is destroyed by tīrtha-yātrā to puṇya-kṣetra (e.g., Gayā) and by worship of Bhava (Śiva) specifically on Amāvasyā, a potent liminal tithi.

Vedantic Theme: Grace and purification through devotion and sacred observance; sanctification of time (kāla) and place (deśa) as supports for inner transformation.

Application: Use sacred rhythms—pilgrimage/retreat and calendrical observances—to reset habits; dedicate new-moon days to reflection, confession, and devotional practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (pilgrimage site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (tīrtha/śrāddha-related passages elsewhere, especially on Gayā and pitṛ-kārya)

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Bhava (Śiva)
• Amāvasyā

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse highlights Gayā as a foremost sacred destination where pilgrimage itself is described as sin-destroying, aligning with Gayā’s broader reputation for ancestral rites like śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna.

How does this verse relate to purification and karmic relief?

It presents two purifying means—tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage to holy places such as Gayā) and Amāvasyā worship of Bhava (Śiva)—both framed as practices that diminish pāpa (demerit) and support spiritual cleansing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Amāvasyā with sincere worship and ethical restraint, and when possible undertake pilgrimage with a disciplined mind—treating the journey and worship as occasions for repentance, charity, and renewed dharma.