Shloka 21

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

निरातङ्कं द्विजं गां च ब्राह्मणार्थे हतो ऽपि वा / अरण्ये नियतो जुप्त्वा त्रिः कृत्वो वेदसंहिताम्

Transliteration

nirātaṅkaṃ dvijaṃ gāṃ ca brāhmaṇārthe hato 'pi vā / araṇye niyato juptvā triḥ kṛtvo vedasaṃhitām

Translation

నిర్దోష ద్విజుని గానీ గోవును గానీ బ్రాహ్మణార్థం రక్షిస్తూ ఎవడైనా హతుడైనప్పటికీ, నియమంతో అరణ్యానికి వెళ్లి, వేదసంహితను మూడుసార్లు నియతంగా జపించాలి.

Word by Word

• निरातङ्कम्: free from fear/harm
• निरातङ्कम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरातङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘द्विजम्’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• द्विजम्: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• ब्राह्मण-अर्थे: for the sake of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मण-अर्थे: Sampradana/Prayojana (Beneficiary/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (ब्राह्मणस्य अर्थे/हिते)

• हतः: killed/slain
• हतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (even/also)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• अरण्ये: in the forest
• अरण्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नियतः: disciplined/restrained
• नियतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + यम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘(सः)’ इति कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्—संयत/नियमयुक्त

• जुप्त्वा: having recited (japa)
• जुप्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); छान्दस/पाठभेदरूप ‘जुप्त्वा’ = जप्त्वा; पूर्वकालिकक्रिया

• त्रिः: three times
• त्रिः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (thrice)

• कृत्वः: times
• कृत्वः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृत्वस्/कृत्वः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (times; ‘कृत्वः’ = ‘वारम्’)

• वेद-संहिताम्: the Vedic Saṃhitā
• वेद-संहिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य संहिता)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protecting a blameless brāhmaṇa or cow is dharmically weighty; disciplined forest-life and thrice-recitation of Vedic Saṃhitā serve as purification and reaffirmation of sacred order.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva is strengthened by tapas and śruti-japa; dharma-protection supports inner clarity conducive to bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Stand up for the vulnerable even at personal cost; then undertake sustained self-discipline and study to prevent relapse and to rebuild integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest hermitage/solitude

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.20 (brāhmaṇa-trāṇa as purifier)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Dvi-ja (twice-born)
• Cow (Go)

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting a brāhmaṇa and a cow in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the protection of a blameless brāhmaṇa and a cow as a high dharmic duty, significant enough that even death incurred in that cause is framed within a disciplined, purifying religious context.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to dharma and merit?

By emphasizing restraint, forest-discipline, and Vedic recitation, the verse links one’s post-death welfare to dharmic intention and purification through sacred sound, rather than mere outward outcomes like injury or death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Uphold non-harm and protection of the vulnerable, and when moral injury or conflict occurs, adopt disciplined corrective practice—such as sincere study/recitation, self-restraint, and ethical living—to realign with dharma.