Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

रजकानाञ्च शैलू षवेणुचर्मोपजीविनाम् / एतदन्नञ्च यो भुङ्क्ते द्विजश्चान्द्रायणं चरेत्

Transliteration

rajakānāñca śailū ṣaveṇucarmopajīvinām / etadannañca yo bhuṅkte dvijaścāndrāyaṇaṃ caret

Translation

రజకులు, శైలూషులు (నటులు), వెణు-కార్యము మరియు చర్మోపజీవుల అन्नాన్ని ఏ ద్విజుడు భుజిస్తాడో, అతడు ప్రాయశ్చిత్తంగా చాంద్రాయణ వ్రతం ఆచరించాలి.

Word by Word

• रजकानाम्: of washermen
• रजकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

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

• शैलूष: of actors/players
• शैलूष: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैलूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (पाठानुसार ‘शैलूष-’ समूहनिर्देशः; अपेक्षितं ‘शैलूषाणाम्’)

• वेणुचर्मोपजीविनाम्: of those who live by bamboo and leather (work)
• वेणुचर्मोपजीविनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उपजीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘वेणुचर्म’ इति षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषपूर्वपदं, तदुपजीविनः = तेन जीविकां कुर्वन्ति

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘अन्नम्’)

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

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

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भुङ्क्ते: eats
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• आन्द्रायणम्: the Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• आन्द्रायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रायश्चित्तनाम

• चरेत्: should perform/practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For dvijas, consuming food associated with certain occupations triggers a heavier expiation: cāndrāyaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline of the senses (indriya-nigraha) as support for sattva and eligibility for sacred study.

Application: If one violates a chosen rule of conduct, adopt a time-bound, measurable corrective discipline (dietary restraint, charity, japa) to reset habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (occupationally-linked food prohibitions and expiations)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of Cāndrāyaṇa prāyaścitta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Cāndrāyaṇa as a formal expiation for a dvija who violates food-purity rules, showing that specific lapses have specific remedial vows in dharma literature.

How does this verse relate to sin and purification teachings in the Garuda Purana?

By prescribing an expiation after consuming ritually improper food, the verse frames impurity as a karmic/ritual fault that can be mitigated through disciplined penance rather than ignored.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages mindful consumption and ethical discipline: if one knowingly breaks a personal or religious rule, one should adopt a structured corrective practice (restraint, fasting, charity, or vows) to restore integrity.