Shloka 70

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

यथाकथञ्चित्पिण्डानां चत्वारिंशच्छतद्वयम् / मासेनैवोपभुञ्जीत चान्द्रायणमथापरम्

Transliteration

yathākathañcitpiṇḍānāṃ catvāriṃśacchatadvayam / māsenaivopabhuñjīta cāndrāyaṇamathāparam

Translation

எப்படியாயினும் ஒரே மாதத்திற்குள் இருநூற்று நாற்பது பிண்டங்களை ஏற்பாடு செய்து உண்டு/ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும்; பின்னர் மற்றொரு அனுஷ்டானமாக சாந்திராயண விரதத்தையும் மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• यथाकथञ्चित्: somehow / in any manner
• यथाकथञ्चित्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + कथम् (अव्यय) + चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययसमूह (adverbial phrase) — ‘somehow/anyhow’

• पिण्डानाम्: of the balls/lumps
• पिण्डानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• चत्वारिंशत्: forty
• चत्वारिंशत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-शब्द; (समासपूर्वपद) ‘forty’

• शतद्वयम्: two hundred
• शतद्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — nominative/accusative singular; तत्पुरुष (‘two hundreds’)

• मासेन: within a month / by a month
• मासेन: Adhikarana (Time-span/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — instrumental singular

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• उपभुञ्जीत: should consume/enjoy
• उपभुञ्जीत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चान्द्रायणम्: Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• चान्द्रायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• अथ: then / now
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• अपरम्: another / further
• अपरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular; विशेषण of चान्द्रायणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: Within one lunar month (māsa).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Quantified prāyaścitta: completing a fixed total (240) within a month; perseverance within constraints.

Vedantic Theme: Abhyāsa (repeated practice) stabilizes the mind; karma performed with niyama becomes purifying.

Application: Set a clear total and timeframe for corrective practice; plan logistics to avoid failure; maintain sincerity over display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.69 (waxing/waning regulation); Garuda Purana 1.105.71 (bath and mantra consecration)

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes disciplined, time-bound piṇḍa offerings as a key śrāddha-related act, treating piṇḍa-dāna as a concrete ritual support within the broader post-death and purification framework.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-focused teaching context, prescribed offerings and vows are presented as ritual duties that aid the proper ordering of post-death rites and the family’s dharmic responsibility toward the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If undertaking śrāddha-related observances, follow a consistent, rule-based approach under qualified guidance, and pair external ritual discipline with inner restraint and ethical living (a modern parallel to Cāndrāyaṇa’s self-regulation).