Shloka 7

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

गुरुनिन्दा वेदनिन्दा ब्रह्महत्यासमे ह्युभे / निषिद्धभक्षणं जिह्मक्रियाचरणमेव च

Transliteration

gurunindā vedanindā brahmahatyāsame hyubhe / niṣiddhabhakṣaṇaṃ jihmakriyācaraṇameva ca

Translation

గురునింద, వేదనింద—ఈ రెండూ బ్రహ్మహత్య పాపంతో సమానమని చెప్పబడింది. అలాగే నిషిద్ధ భక్షణం చేయడం, కపటమైన వక్రాచారాన్ని ఆచరించడం కూడా ఘోర పాపమే.

Word by Word

• गुरुनिन्दा: censure of the teacher
• गुरुनिन्दा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः निन्दा)

• वेदनिन्दा: censure of the Veda
• वेदनिन्दा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य निन्दा)

• ब्रह्महत्यासमे: in/at the level equal to brahma-hatya
• ब्रह्महत्यासमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्महत्यायाः समे)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधानार्थ/हेतौ

• उभे: both (of them)
• उभे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• निषिद्धभक्षणम्: eating what is forbidden
• निषिद्धभक्षणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निषिद्ध (कृदन्त/ppp from √सिध्/√षिध् with नि-) + भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः (निषिद्धं भक्षणम्)

• जिह्मक्रियाचरणम्: practice of crooked/deceitful actions
• जिह्मक्रियाचरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जिह्मा क्रिया यस्य तत्/जिह्मक्रियायाः चरणम्)

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain acts (guru-nindā, veda-nindā, niṣiddha-bhakṣaṇa, jihma-kriyā) are mahāpātaka-like due to their corrosive effect on dharma and truthfulness.

Vedantic Theme: Śruti-prāmāṇya (authority of the Veda) and guru-śraddhā as supports for right knowledge and right living; adharma obscures sattva and blocks jñāna.

Application: Guard speech against disparaging teachers and scripture; follow dietary/behavioral restraints; cultivate straightforward conduct (ārjava) and integrity in daily dealings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda sections listing mahāpātakas and upapātakas (general parallel passages)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Vedas
• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of guru-nindā and veda-nindā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies disparaging the guru and reviling the Vedas as extremely grave offenses—on par with brahmahatyā—highlighting that spiritual authority and śāstra must be approached with reverence.

How does this verse relate to consequences after death described in the Garuda Purana?

By ranking these acts among the heaviest sins, the text signals that such behaviors generate severe pāpa-karma, which (in the broader Garuda Purana framework) leads to intense post-death suffering and punitive experiences under Yama’s order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain respectful speech toward teachers and scriptures, avoid knowingly prohibited/adharmic consumption, and practice transparent, honest conduct rather than manipulative or deceitful behavior.