Shloka 61

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

पृथक् सान्तपनैर्द्रव्यैः षडहः सोपवासकः / सप्ताहेन तु कृच्छ्रो ऽयं महासान्तपनः स्मृतः

Transliteration

pṛthak sāntapanairdravyaiḥ ṣaḍahaḥ sopavāsakaḥ / saptāhena tu kṛcchro 'yaṃ mahāsāntapanaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

సాంతపన ద్రవ్యాలను వేర్వేరుగా తీసుకొని, ఆరు రోజులు ఉపవాసంతో ఆచరించాలి; ఈ కృచ్ఛ్రం ఏడు రోజుల్లో పూర్తయితే అది ‘మహాసాంతపన’ అని స్మరించబడుతుంది.

Word by Word

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: separately)

• सान्तपनैः: with sāntapana-related
• सान्तपनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्तपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying द्रव्यैः)

• द्रव्यैः: materials/substances
• द्रव्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन

• षडहः: a period of six days
• षडहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (षट् ‘six’ + अहन् ‘day’), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• सोपवासकः: with fasting
• सोपवासकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + उपवासक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (स ‘with’ + उपवासक ‘fasting’), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying षडहः)

• सप्ताहेन: by/within a week
• सप्ताहेन: Karana (Measure/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (सप्त ‘seven’ + अहन् ‘day’), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr.), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• कृच्छ्रः: the kṛcchra penance
• कृच्छ्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कृच्छ्रः)

• महासान्तपनः: the great sāntapana (penance)
• महासान्तपनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + सान्तपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महा ‘great’ + सान्तपन), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is called/considered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) / स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahā-sāntapana: separate use of sāntapana substances with fasting for six days; completion in seven days constitutes the ‘great’ sāntapana expiation.

Vedantic Theme: Tapas as karma-śodhana; discipline and time-structure as tools for inner reform.

Application: When undertaking any corrective vow, define duration, steps, and completion criteria; pair austerity with ethical restitution and ongoing restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.60 (Sāntapana Kṛcchra definition)

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahā-sāntapana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Mahā-sāntapana as a recognized form of severe expiation (kṛcchra) performed with prescribed Sāntapana items and fasting, emphasizing structured purification through disciplined observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prescribing prayāścitta (expiation), the verse points to moral and ritual purification as supportive causes for reducing the burden of wrongdoing, which the Garuda Purana links to one’s post-death consequences and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined self-restraint—especially fasting and regulated conduct—guided by competent tradition/teachers, as a means of ethical correction and inner purification rather than mere punishment.