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Shloka 56

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

त्वग्भेदं पुच्छनाशे वा मासार्धं यावकं पिबेत् / सर्वं हस्त्यश्वशस्त्राद्यैर्निश्चयं कृच्छ्रमेव तु

Transliteration

tvagbhedaṃ pucchanāśe vā māsārdhaṃ yāvakaṃ pibet / sarvaṃ hastyaśvaśastrādyairniścayaṃ kṛcchrameva tu

Translation

त्वग्भेदे पुच्छनाशे वा मासार्धं यावकं पिबेत्; हस्त्यश्वशस्त्राद्यैः कृतं सर्वं निश्चयं कृच्छ्रमेव विधीयते।

Word by Word
त्वग्भेदम्skin-cutting/skin-splitting
त्वग्भेदम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootत्वक्-भेद (प्रातिपदिक; त्वक् + भेद)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
पुच्छनाशेin (the case of) loss of the tail
पुच्छनाशे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपुच्छ-नाश (प्रातिपदिक; पुच्छ + नाश)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the case of tail-loss)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)
मासार्धम्half a month
मासार्धम्:
Karma (कर्म/काल)
TypeNoun
Rootमास-अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक; मास + अर्ध)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)
यावकम्barley-gruel (yāvaka)
यावकम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयावक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पेय/आहार-नाम
पिबेत्should drink
पिबेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√पा (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
सर्वम्all (of this)
सर्वम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समस्त-वाक्ये कर्मपद (all cases)
हस्त्यश्वशस्त्राद्यैःby elephants, horses, weapons, etc. (i.e., by such causes)
हस्त्यश्वशस्त्राद्यैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootहस्ति-अश्व-शस्त्र-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; हस्ति + अश्व + शस्त्र + आदि)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘हस्त्यश्वशस्त्रादि’ इति समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)
निश्चयम्certainly
निश्चयम्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootनिश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (as an adverbial accusative: certainly)
कृच्छ्रम्kṛcchra penance
कृच्छ्रम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रायश्चित्त-नाम
एवindeed/only
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For specific injuries (skin split, tail loss) caused to cattle/animals, a defined dietary austerity (yāvaka) for half a month is prescribed; kṛcchra is the certain expiation across causes.

Vedantic Theme: Tapas as self-regulation to counteract harm; disciplined diet purifies mind and intention (sattva-vṛddhi).

Application: Adopt structured corrective practices after causing harm: restitution + time-bound discipline; in modern terms, combine ethical accountability with consistent behavioral change.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: kṛcchra variants and food-based penances recur in prāyaścitta lists

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse presents a specific expiatory regimen (kṛcchra) as a dharmic remedy for certain forms of bodily injury, showing how the text links ethical order with regulated purification practices.

While not directly describing the after-death journey, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework that stresses purification and dharma in life as preparation for post-mortem consequences governed by karmic law.

It can be taken as guidance toward disciplined atonement and corrective living after harm—pairing repentance with a structured vow (under appropriate guidance) and a commitment to non-violence and responsibility.

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