Shloka 31

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

गोष्ठेशयो गो ऽनुगामी गोप्रदानेन शुध्यति / उपपातकशुद्धिः स्याच्चान्द्रायणव्रतेन च

Transliteration

goṣṭheśayo go 'nugāmī gopradānena śudhyati / upapātakaśuddhiḥ syāccāndrāyaṇavratena ca

Translation

गोष्ठेशयः गोऽनुगामी च गोप्रदानेन शुध्यति; उपपातकशुद्धिश्च चान्द्रायणव्रतेनापि स्यात्।

Word by Word

• गोष्ठे: in the cowshed
• गोष्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शयः: one who lies/sleeps
• शयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय (प्रातिपदिक; √शी (धातु) → शय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गो: a cow
• गो: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अनुगामी: one who follows
• अनुगामी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + √गम् (धातु) → अनुगामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक

• गोप्रदानेन: by the gift of a cow
• गोप्रदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक; √दा (धातु) → प्रदान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गवां प्रदानम्)

• शुध्यति: is purified
• शुध्यति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुध्/√शुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• उपपातकशुद्धिः: purification from minor sins
• उपपातकशुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपपातक + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उपपातकस्य शुद्धिः)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• चान्द्रायणव्रतेन: by the Cāndrāyaṇa vow
• चान्द्रायणव्रतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चान्द्रायण + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चान्द्रायणस्य व्रतम्)

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

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, typical dialogue frame of the Garuḍa Purāṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Go-dāna purifies certain cow-related faults; Cāndrāyaṇa purifies upapātakas (minor sins).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva is strengthened through dāna and vrata; karma can be lightened by corrective dharmic acts.

Application: When one’s actions harm or disrespect a valued life-support system, repair through meaningful giving and disciplined self-regulation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (go-dāna and Cāndrāyaṇa as prāyaścitta)

FAQs

What is the importance of Gau-dāna (cow donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents gau-dāna as a direct means of purification for specific faults, emphasizing charity as an effective prāyaścitta (atonement) within dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking wrongdoing to prescribed atonements, it implies that karmic impurities can be reduced through dharmic remedies, supporting a cleaner moral and spiritual trajectory beyond this life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice ethical restraint and, when one errs, adopt sincere corrective action—charity and disciplined vows/observances—aligned with one’s tradition and capacity.