Shloka 16

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

कन्याप्रदानं तस्यैव कौटिल्यं व्रतलोपनम् / आत्मनोर्ऽथे क्रियारम्भो मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणम्

Transliteration

kanyāpradānaṃ tasyaiva kauṭilyaṃ vratalopanam / ātmanor'the kriyārambho madyapastrīniṣevaṇam

Translation

కపటంతో అదే వ్యక్తికి కన్యాదానం చేయడం; వ్రతభంగం; స్వార్థం కోసం క్రియాకర్మలు ప్రారంభించడం; మద్యపానం; మరియు పరస్త్రీనిషేవణం—ఇవి నింద్యకర్మలు।

Word by Word

• कन्याप्रदानम्: giving away a daughter (in marriage)
• कन्याप्रदानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कन्यायाः प्रदानम्)

• तस्य: of that; his
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कौटिल्यम्: crookedness; deceit
• कौटिल्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौटिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• व्रतलोपनम्: causing/doing the breaking of vows
• व्रतलोपनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + लोपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (व्रतस्य लोपनम्)

• आत्मनोः: of oneself (twofold/dual form)
• आत्मनोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• अर्थे: for the sake; in the interest
• अर्थे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• क्रियारम्भः: undertaking of actions; initiating acts
• क्रियारम्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + आरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्रियायाः आरम्भः)

• मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणम्: consorting with drunken women
• मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्यप (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निषेवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मद्यप-स्त्रीणां निषेवणम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deceit in marriage arrangements, breaking vows, performing rites for selfish ends, drinking intoxicants, and consorting with another’s wife are condemned as adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Intention (bhava) shapes karma; selfish ritual (kāmya/artha-driven with deceit) and intoxication cloud buddhi, obstructing sattva and devotion.

Application: Practice transparency and consent in marriage; keep vows; perform rituals with purity of intent; avoid intoxication that leads to ethical collapse; maintain sexual restraint and respect.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: condemnations of madya and parastrigamana in papa lists; emphasis on pure sankalpa in rites (thematic); Garuda Purana: dharma sections on vrata and niyama

FAQs

What is the importance of vows (vrata) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats breaking vows (vratalopana) as a serious moral failing, implying that spiritual discipline and integrity in observances directly affect one’s karma.

How does this verse relate to karma and consequences in the Garuda Purana?

By listing deceit, vow-breaking, selfish ritualism, intoxication, and illicit relations as blameworthy, it frames them as sources of pāpa (demerit) that lead to adverse karmic outcomes discussed elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice honesty in relationships, keep commitments and vows, avoid using religion for selfish ends, and maintain sobriety and sexual ethics to support a dharmic life.