Shloka 9

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

सखिभार्याकुमारीषु स्वयोनिष्वन्त्यजासु च / सगोत्रासु तथा स्त्रीषु गुरुतल्पसमं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

sakhibhāryākumārīṣu svayoniṣvantyajāsu ca / sagotrāsu tathā strīṣu gurutalpasamaṃ smṛtam

Translation

స్నేహితుని భార్య లేదా కుమారితో, తన వంశస్త్రీలతో, అంత్యజ స్త్రీలతో, అలాగే సగోత్ర స్త్రీలతో సంభోగం—ఇది గురుతల్పభంగ పాపంతో సమానమని స్మృతిలో చెప్పబడింది.

Word by Word

• सखिभार्याकुमारीषु: among (one’s) female friends, wives, and maidens
• सखिभार्याकुमारीषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (सख्यः च भार्याः च कुमार्यः च)

• स्वयोनिषु: among women of one’s own womb/lineage
• स्वयोनिषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः (स्वा योनि:)

• अन्त्यजासु: among outcaste women
• अन्त्यजासु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्यज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (अन्त्यजा-स्त्रीषु)

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

• सगोत्रासु: among women of the same clan (sagotra)
• सगोत्रासु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थे प्रायः (समानगोत्रा-स्त्रीषु)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• स्त्रीषु: among women
• स्त्रीषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• गुरुतल्पसमम्: equal to violating the guru’s bed
• गुरुतल्पसमम्: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + तल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः तल्पम्) + समम् (तुल्यम्)

• स्मृतम्: is declared/considered
• स्मृतम्: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘इति कथितम्/विहितम्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sexual misconduct that violates trust, lineage rules, and social boundaries is equated with gurutalpa—an archetypal mahāpātaka—because it destroys dharma, friendship, and kula integrity.

Vedantic Theme: Kāma when unrestrained becomes bondage; dharmic restraint purifies mind (citta-śuddhi) enabling higher pursuits.

Application: Maintain strict sexual ethics: honor trust, avoid incest/clan-prohibited relations, and uphold community rules that prevent harm and exploitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of gurutalpa and related sexual transgressions as mahāpātaka-equivalents (general parallel passages)

FAQs

What is the importance of gurutalpa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses ‘gurutalpa’ as a benchmark for a mahāpātaka-level offense, stating that several illicit relations are judged as equally grave in moral and karmic consequence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By classifying certain acts as extremely heavy sins, the text implies intensified karmic burden that leads to harsher post-death consequences unless corrected through restraint and appropriate prāyaścitta.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain strict sexual ethics—avoid exploitative, prohibited, or socially destructive relationships—and treat trust, family boundaries, and teacher-student sanctity as core dharmic commitments.