Shloka 36
Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations
Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa
गजे नीलान्वृषान्पञ्च शुके वत्सं द्विहायनम् / खराजमेषेषु वृषो देयः क्रौञ्चे त्रिहायणः
gaje nīlānvṛṣānpañca śuke vatsaṃ dvihāyanam / kharājameṣeṣu vṛṣo deyaḥ krauñce trihāyaṇaḥ
‘గజ’ సంబంధిత కర్మలో ఐదు నీలవర్ణ ఎద్దులను దానం చేయాలి. ‘శుక’ సందర్భంలో రెండేళ్ల దూడను దానం చేయాలి. ‘ఖర–అజ–మేష’లో ఒక ఎద్దు దేయం; ‘క్రౌంచ’లో మూడేళ్ల (పశువు) దానం చేయాలి।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Ritual propriety (yathāvidhi) links specific occasions to specific dāna items; precision sustains dharmic order and intended phala.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as ordered action within time; disciplined intention and correctness refine the mind (sattva) though not itself final liberation.
Application: When undertaking vows/charity, be precise and consistent; align giving with context and capacity, and ensure gifts are ethically sourced and beneficial.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (dāna specifications tied to named categories; continuation of prāyaścitta/dāna catalog)
FAQs
This verse illustrates that specific dānas are prescribed with precise types and ages of animals for particular ritual occasions, emphasizing that properly directed charity is considered a means to accrue merit and support dharmic rites.
The Garuda Purana often lists itemized dānas to be performed alongside śrāddha/preta-related observances; here it gives a rule-set for which animal gifts are to be offered under named occasions (e.g., gaja, śuka, krauñca), reflecting the text’s ritual-technical tradition.
The actionable principle is intentional, rule-guided charity: if traditional animal-dāna is not feasible or appropriate, practitioners commonly follow the spirit of the injunction through equivalent ethical giving (food, cowshed support, or sanctioned substitutes) under guidance of a qualified priest/tradition.