Shloka 67

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

पिण्याकाचामतक्राम्बुसक्तूनां प्रतिवासरम् / एकैकमुपवासश्च कृच्छ्रः सौम्यो ऽयमुच्यते

Transliteration

piṇyākācāmatakrāmbusaktūnāṃ prativāsaram / ekaikamupavāsaśca kṛcchraḥ saumyo 'yamucyate

Translation

पिण्याकं चाम्लतक्रं चाम्बु तक्रं च सक्तून् च प्रतिवासरं यथाक्रमं भुञ्जीत, मध्ये चैकैकमुपवासं कुर्यात्—एषः सौम्यः कृच्छ्रव्रतविधिरुच्यते।

Word by Word

• पिण्याक: oil-cake (residue)
• पिण्याक: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्याक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• आचाम: sipping (ācamana-water)
• आचाम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• तक्र: buttermilk
• तक्र: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• अम्बु: water
• अम्बु: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• सक्तूनाम्: parched flour (saktu)
• सक्तूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• प्रतिवासरम्: daily / each day
• प्रतिवासरम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial) — ‘each day’

• एकैकम्: one each / one by one
• एकैकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक-एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular; ‘one by one’

• उपवासः: fast
• उपवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular

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

• कृच्छ्रः: a penance called Kṛcchra
• कृच्छ्रः: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular

• सौम्यः: gentle / mild
• सौम्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular; विशेषण of कृच्छ्रः

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular (pronoun)

• उच्यते: is called / is said
• उच्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta through regulated intake (kṛcchra) to attenuate pāpa and restore ritual-moral purity.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as a prerequisite for higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Adopt structured austerity under guidance: simple foods, alternating fasts, and mindful restraint to correct lapses and rebuild discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (prāyaścitta-kṛcchra context); Garuda Purana sections on prāyaścitta and śuddhi (adjacent verses)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Saumya Kṛcchra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines a specific mild expiatory observance (prāyaścitta) using a regulated diet and intermittent fasting, emphasizing disciplined self-restraint as a means of purification.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on consequences of actions?

By prescribing a structured penance, it shows that ethical repair is possible through dharmic discipline—counterbalancing wrongdoing with deliberate restraint and purification rather than mere regret.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt measured austerity—such as mindful eating, periodic fasting, and simplified diet—paired with ethical correction, charity, and avoidance of the original harmful behavior.