Shloka 22

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

तीर्थे गत्वा च यः को ऽपि पुनरायाति वै गृहम् / अनुज्ञातः स वै विप्रैः प्रायश्चित्तमथाचरेत्

Transliteration

tīrthe gatvā ca yaḥ ko 'pi punarāyāti vai gṛham / anujñātaḥ sa vai vipraiḥ prāyaścittamathācaret

Translation

ఎవడైనా తీర్థానికి వెళ్లి మళ్లీ ఇంటికి తిరిగి వస్తే, అతడు విప్రుల అనుమతి పొందిన తరువాత విధించిన ప్రాయశ్చిత్తాన్ని ఆచరించాలి.

Word by Word

• तीर्थे: to/at a holy place
• तीर्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having gone’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• कः: someone/anyone
• कः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रश्न/अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite with अपि)

• अपि: even/any
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); ‘even/any’ (indefinite with कः)

• पुनः: back/again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again/back)

• आयाति: returns/comes
• आयाति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); निश्चयार्थ/खल्वर्थ

• गृहम्: home
• गृहम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गन्तव्य (goal)

• अनुज्ञातः: permitted
• अनुज्ञातः: विशेषण (Adjectival to कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); निश्चयार्थ

• विप्रैः: by Brahmins
• विप्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation/penance
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/आरम्भसूचक (then/thereupon)

• आचरेत्: should practice/perform
• आचरेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pilgrimage is not a substitute for prescribed expiation; after returning, one should perform prāyaścitta with proper sanction.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi through regulated action; outer rites must align with inner discipline and scriptural procedure.

Application: Do not treat sacred travel as a loophole; complete required restitution/atonement steps after consultation with qualified authorities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.36.21 (Cāndrāyaṇa and post-expiation conduct); Garuda Purana 2.36.23–25 (tīrtha merit and cautions)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas (Vipras)
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta after tīrtha-yātrā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that after visiting a tīrtha and returning home, one should undertake the appropriate expiation—under brāhmaṇa guidance—to restore ritual and ethical purity and complete the pilgrimage properly.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals and the afterlife?

In the Preta Kanda, purity, authorized rites, and corrective penances are emphasized as supports for dharma; such discipline is presented as beneficial for one’s spiritual condition and for properly conducting rites connected with post-death obligations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

After pilgrimage, follow a qualified priest/teacher’s instructions, keep vows honestly, and do a suitable act of purification or charity as one’s tradition prescribes—treating the journey as a dharmic commitment, not only travel.