Shloka 22

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

सरस्वतीं वा संसेव्यं धनं पात्रे समर्पयेत् / यागस्थक्षत्त्रविड्घात् चरेद्ब्रह्महणो व्रतम्

Transliteration

sarasvatīṃ vā saṃsevyaṃ dhanaṃ pātre samarpayet / yāgasthakṣattraviḍghāt caredbrahmahaṇo vratam

Translation

Или же, должным образом почтив Сарасвати, следует пожертвовать богатство достойному получателю. Тот, кто убил кшатрия или вида (вайшью), либо совершил убийство во время жертвоприношения, должен принять искупительный обет, предписанный убийце брахмана.

Word by Word

• सरस्वतीम्: Sarasvatī (goddess)
• सरस्वतीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• संसेव्यम्: to be served/attended
• संसेव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + सेव् (धातु) → संसेव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be served)

• धनम्: wealth, money
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पात्रे: in/into a worthy recipient (vessel/person)
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• समर्पयेत्: should offer/dedicate
• समर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यागस्थ: situated at a sacrifice
• यागस्थ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याग + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यागे स्थः = situated in a sacrifice), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-विशेषण)

• क्षत्त्र: Kṣatra (warrior class/royalty)
• क्षत्त्र: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगानुसार), सप्तमी-एकवचन (सम्बन्धे)

• विड्घात्: from/for the killing of a Vaiśya
• विड्घात्: Apadana/Hetu (Cause/Source/अपादान-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विड् + घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विडः घातः = killing of a Vaiśya), पुँलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (अपादान/हेतु-प्रयोगः)

• चरेत्: should perform/practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्महणः: a Brahmin-slayer
• ब्रह्महणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + हन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता = slayer of a Brāhmaṇa), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow, penance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta: graded expiation for homicide and sacrificial killing; dāna to a worthy recipient after worship.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra-śuddhi as prerequisites for adhikāra (fitness) in dharma and spiritual life.

Application: Seek learned guidance; perform prescribed penance proportionate to harm; combine worship, restitution (dāna), and disciplined vows rather than denial or concealment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual arena (yajña-śālā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta/Dharma sections on prāyaścitta and varṇa-based offences (general parallel themes)

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvatī

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable giving) in this Garuḍa Purāṇa verse?

The verse links expiation with pātra-dāna—offering wealth to a qualified recipient—presented as a remedial act alongside worship, used to lessen the burden of grave wrongdoing.

How does this verse explain prāyaścitta for serious sins?

It states that certain killings—such as slaying a Kṣatriya or Vaiśya, or killing connected with a sacrifice—require undertaking the stringent vow associated with brahmahatyā expiation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes accountability: seek purification through sincere worship, ethical restitution, and meaningful charity directed to genuinely deserving beneficiaries, guided by competent tradition/teachers.