Shloka 52

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

जले जप्त्वा तु जुहुयाच्चात्वारिंशद्घृताहुतीः / त्रिरात्रोपोषणो हुत्वा कूष्माण्डीभिर्घृतं शुचिः

Transliteration

jale japtvā tu juhuyāccātvāriṃśadghṛtāhutīḥ / trirātropoṣaṇo hutvā kūṣmāṇḍībhirghṛtaṃ śuciḥ

Translation

Tendo recitado o mantra na água, deve-se oferecer quarenta oblações de ghee ao fogo sagrado. Depois, observando jejum por três noites e realizando a oferenda com ghee juntamente com kūṣmāṇḍī (abóbora/ash-gourd), a pessoa, em pureza, é purificada.

Word by Word

• जले: in water
• जले: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाले (having done)

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे (but/indeed)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• चात्वारिंशत्: forty
• चात्वारिंशत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (numeral adjective), अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; कर्मपदस्य विशेषणम्

• घृताहुतीः: ghee-offerings
• घृताहुतीः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + आहुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); घृतेन कृताः आहुतयः (ghee-offerings)

• त्रिरात्रोपोषणः: one observing a three-night fast
• त्रिरात्रोपोषणः: कर्ता (Subject/Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिरात्र + उपोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); त्रिरात्रस्य उपोषणं यस्य (one observing a three-night fast)

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to following state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाले (having offered)

• कूष्माण्डीभिः: with (kūṣmāṇḍī) gourds
• कूष्माण्डीभिः: करण (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूष्माण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification through regulated ritual action (japa, homa) and tapas (three-night fast).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as a prerequisite for higher knowledge; karma as a means to cleanse and steady the mind.

Application: Undertake structured atonement: mantra recitation with water-contact, fixed-count ghee oblations, and a short fast under guidance; emphasize cleanliness and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (tirtha/riverbank or consecrated water + fire-altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (prayāścitta/śuddhi context, adjacent verses on japa, prāṇāyāma, Rudra-japa)

FAQs

What is the importance of homa and fasting (upoṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents homa (ghee oblations) combined with a three-night fast as a structured expiation that restores ritual purity (śuci) through disciplined action and sacred offering.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

While not describing the after-death journey directly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that karmic impurities can be reduced through prescribed prayāścitta, helping one avoid adverse consequences that affect one’s post-mortem state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain inner and outer cleanliness, pair repentance with disciplined restraint (fasting/abstinence), and—where appropriate within one’s tradition—perform or sponsor simple fire-offerings and charitable acts as a corrective response to wrongdoing.