Shloka 32

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

विप्रः पञ्चशतं जप्यं गायत्र्याः क्षत्रियस्य च शतं विप्रश्च भुक्त्वान्नं पानपात्रेण सूतके

Transliteration

vipraḥ pañcaśataṃ japyaṃ gāyatryāḥ kṣatriyasya ca śataṃ vipraśca bhuktvānnaṃ pānapātreṇa sūtake

Translation

బ్రాహ్మణుడు గాయత్రీ మంత్రాన్ని ఐదు వందల సార్లు జపించాలి; క్షత్రియుడు వంద సార్లు. అలాగే బ్రాహ్మణుడు సూతక స్థితిలో పానపాత్రంతో అన్నం భుజించినచో, విధిపూర్వకంగా నిర్దిష్ట ప్రాయశ్చిత్త‑జపం చేయాలి.

Word by Word

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पञ्चशतम्: five hundred
• पञ्चशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः द्विगु (पञ्च शतानि)

• जप्यम्: to be recited
• जप्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्य (कृदन्त; यत्/ण्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण — 'to be recited'

• गायत्र्याः: of the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्र्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• क्षत्रियस्य: of a kṣatriya
• क्षत्रियस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

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

• शतम्: one hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — 'having eaten'

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पानपात्रेण: with a drinking vessel
• पानपात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (पानस्य पात्रम्)

• सूतके: during impurity (sūtaka)
• सूतके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-japa (Gāyatrī) functions as expiation; prescribed counts vary by varṇa; ritual impurity breaches (sūtaka) require corrective recitation.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as purifier; disciplined repetition steadies mind (citta-śuddhi) and supports dharmic life as preparation for higher realization.

Application: Use structured spiritual practice (daily japa/recitation) as a corrective when one violates personal vows or community norms; keep clear counts and consistency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/domestic setting (sūtaka context)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (japa-based prāyaścitta; sūtaka-related correction)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Vipra)
• Kshatriya
• Gayatri
• Sutaka

FAQs

What is the importance of Gāyatrī-japa as expiation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Gāyatrī recitation as a primary means of purification and expiation (prāyaścitta), prescribing specific counts according to varṇa and impurity context.

How does this verse relate to death-related impurity (sūtaka) practices?

By mentioning sūtaka, it situates mantra-japa within the rules of ritual impurity that commonly arise after a death (or birth) in the family, indicating recitation as a corrective discipline when purity norms are breached.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain mindfulness about ritual/ethical discipline during periods of family disruption, and use regular mantra recitation and corrective practices to restore steadiness, cleanliness, and composure.