Shloka 58

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्यं दया क्षान्तिर्ध्यानं सत्यमकल्कता / अहिंसा स्तेयमाधुर्ये दमश्चैते यमाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

brahmacaryaṃ dayā kṣāntirdhyānaṃ satyamakalkatā / ahiṃsā steyamādhurye damaścaite yamāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

బ్రహ్మచర్యం, దయ, క్షమ, ధ్యానం, సత్యం, నిర్మలత్వం, అహింస, అస్తేయం, వాక్య-ఆచరణ మాధుర్యం, ఇంద్రియదమనం—ఇవే యమములని స్మరించబడినవి.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy, brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्म + चर्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• क्षान्तिः: forbearance
• क्षान्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truthfulness
• सत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• अकल्कता: spotlessness, purity
• अकल्कता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकल्कता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• अहिंसा: non-violence
• अहिंसा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष (अ + हिंसा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• स्तेयम्: non-stealing (absence of theft)
• स्तेयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• माधुर्ये: sweetness, gentleness (twofold/dual form as transmitted)
• माधुर्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), द्विवचन (dual) (as in text माधुर्ये)

• दमः: self-control
• दमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एते: these
• एते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying यमाः)

• यमाः: restraints (yamas)
• यमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are said/are remembered as
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) / स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yamas as foundational restraints: brahmacarya, compassion, forbearance, meditation, truth, purity, non-violence, non-stealing, sweetness, and sense-control.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) as prerequisite for higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Adopt one yama at a time (e.g., ahiṃsā in speech, satya with kindness, asteya in time/attention) and track daily conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.59 (niyama list follows)

FAQs

What is the importance of yamas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines yamas as core ethical restraints—self-restraint, compassion, truth, purity, non-violence, and sense-control—presented as foundational dharma that steadies conduct and purifies karma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing moral restraint and inner discipline, it implies that the soul’s well-being and onward journey are supported by purified karma and controlled senses, rather than by mere outward acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt daily truthfulness, non-harm, non-stealing, gentle speech, meditation, and sense-control as concrete vows; these directly refine character and reduce harmful karmic patterns.