Shloka 23

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances

Devanagari script

यः सर्वपापयुक्तो ऽपि पुण्यतीर्थेषु मानवः / नियमेन त्यजेत्प्राणान्मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

Transliteration

yaḥ sarvapāpayukto 'pi puṇyatīrtheṣu mānavaḥ / niyamena tyajetprāṇānmucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Translation

సర్వపాపాలతో కూడిన మనిషి అయినా, పుణ్యతీర్థాలలో నియమంతో ప్రాణత్యాగం చేస్తే, అతడు అన్ని పాతకాల నుండీ విముక్తుడగును.

Word by Word

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• सर्वपापयुक्तः: endowed with all sins; very sinful
• सर्वपापयुक्तः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वपाप + युक्त (प्रातिपदिके; युज् (धातु) → क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; ‘सर्वैः पापैः युक्तः’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि = even/also

• पुण्यतीर्थेषु: in holy pilgrimage places
• पुण्यतीर्थेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यतीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; पुण्य + तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; अधिकरण (place)

• मानवः: a man; human
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नियमेन: by rule; with observance
• नियमेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/प्रकार (means/manner)

• त्यजेत्: should give up; should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्राणान्: life-breaths; life
• प्राणान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• सर्वपातकैः: from all sins (grave offenses)
• सर्वपातकैः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वपातक (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + पातक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; अपादानार्थे (ablatival sense with passive: freed from)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even heavily sinful persons may attain release from grave demerit by disciplined death at sacred tirthas—emphasizing the purificatory potency of kshetra and niyama at life’s end.

Vedantic Theme: Antya-kala samskara and kshetra-mahatmya; karma-kshaya as a gateway to higher pursuit (bhakti/jnana).

Application: Interpret as urging serious repentance, disciplined living, and seeking sacred environments for reform; if discussing end-of-life, emphasize ethical preparation, remembrance of God, and non-harm (avoid romanticizing self-harm).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent emphasis on antya-kala remembrance, tirtha-mahatmya, and papa-kshaya through disciplined acts; Garuda Purana: prayaschitta themes for mahapataka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of dying at a sacred tirtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that if a person relinquishes life at a holy tīrtha with proper restraint and observance, the act functions as a powerful expiation, freeing one from grave sins (pātakas).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By emphasizing niyama and the sanctity of tīrthas at the moment of death, it implies that the soul’s post-death trajectory is shaped by karmic purification and the spiritual conditions present at death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined living (niyama), seek purification through sincere pilgrimage and worship, and prioritize ethical conduct so that one’s final moments are steady, prayerful, and oriented toward dharma.