Shloka 14
Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations
Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa
सच्छूद्रविट्क्षत्त्रबन्धोर्निन्दितार्थोपजीविता / नास्तिक्यं व्रतलोपश्च शूल्यं गोश्वेव विक्रयः
sacchūdraviṭkṣattrabandhorninditārthopajīvitā / nāstikyaṃ vratalopaśca śūlyaṃ gośveva vikrayaḥ
सच्छूद्रविट्क्षत्त्रबन्धोर्निन्दितार्थोपजीविता, नास्तिक्यं, व्रतलोपश्च; शूल्यं, गोश्वयोर्विक्रयश्च—एते निन्द्याः प्रकीर्तिताः।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Censured livelihood, atheism (nāstikya), breaking vows, meat-skewer trade, and selling cows/horses are blameworthy, corroding śraddhā and social-ritual order.
Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā and niyama support sattva; nāstikya and vrata-lopa deepen tamas, obstructing spiritual progress.
Application: Choose dignified, non-harmful livelihoods; keep commitments; cultivate śraddhā; avoid trades rooted in cruelty or exploitation of protected animals.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata and sadachara sections; papa lists including nāstikya and himsa-based livelihoods; Garuda Purana: later naraka descriptions often tie to himsa and vow-breaking (thematic)
FAQs
This verse flags certain ways of earning—especially those considered socially and ritually degrading—as dharma-violations, implying they generate pāpa and lead to adverse post-death consequences described elsewhere in the Purana.
By identifying nāstikya (denial of dharma) and vratalopa (breaking vows) as blameworthy, it links moral and religious conduct with karmic outcomes that shape the soul’s post-mortem journey and experiences in Yama’s domain (as taught in the Garuda Purana’s broader narrative).
Choose ethical work, keep commitments and vows you undertake, avoid actions that harm societal and sacred trust (especially around protected animals), and cultivate śraddhā rather than denial of moral causality.