Shloka 17

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायाग्निसुतत्यागो बान्धवत्याग एव च / असच्छास्त्राभिगमनं भार्यात्मपरिवि क्रयः

Transliteration

svādhyāyāgnisutatyāgo bāndhavatyāga eva ca / asacchāstrābhigamanaṃ bhāryātmaparivi krayaḥ

Translation

స్వాధ్యాయాన్ని విడిచిపెట్టడం, పవిత్ర అగ్ని మరియు సంతానాన్ని నిర్లక్ష్యం చేయడం, బంధువులను త్యజించడం; అసత్య శాస్త్రాలను ఆశ్రయించడం, భార్యను లేదా తనను తాను అమ్ముకోవడం—ఇవి నింద్య కర్మలు.

Word by Word

• स्वाध्याय-अग्नि-सुत-त्यागः: abandonment of self-study, sacred fire, and son
• स्वाध्याय-अग्नि-सुत-त्यागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ)

• बान्धव-त्यागः: abandonment of relatives
• बान्धव-त्यागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक) + त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बान्धवानां त्यागः)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• असत्-शास्त्र-अभिगमनम्: approaching/consulting false scriptures
• असत्-शास्त्र-अभिगमनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषसमासः—असत् शास्त्रम् (कर्मधारय) + तस्य अभिगमनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• भार्या-आत्म-परिविक्रयः: selling of one’s wife and oneself
• भार्या-आत्म-परिविक्रयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + परिविक्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (भार्या च आत्मा च—तयोः परिविक्रयः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma arises from abandoning svādhyāya, agni, progeny-care, kinship duties, and from embracing false śāstra and commodifying persons.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; tamas-driven transgression obscures sattva needed for jñāna/bhakti.

Application: Maintain daily study and household rites; avoid exploitative relationships; verify teachings by śāstra and sadācāra; uphold family responsibilities without coercion or trafficking.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (context: upapāpa and prāyaścitta sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya and the sacred fire in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse treats neglect of svādhyāya (sacred learning) and agni-related duties as serious moral failure, indicating that inner discipline and household rites are foundational to dharma.

How does this verse relate to karma and consequences described in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

By listing these as condemnable actions, the text frames them as adharma that generates harmful karma—often discussed elsewhere in the Purāṇa in terms of suffering and accountability after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain disciplined learning and ethical living, uphold responsibilities to family, and avoid exploitative or dehumanizing choices—especially those driven by greed or misguided ideologies.