Shloka 1
Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations
Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa
नाम चतुरुत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः विहितस्याननुष्ठानान्निन्दितस्य च सेवनात् / अनिग्रहाच्चेन्द्रियाणां नरः पतनमृच्छति
nāma caturuttaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ vihitasyānanuṣṭhānānninditasya ca sevanāt / anigrahāccendriyāṇāṃ naraḥ patanamṛcchati
บทนี้เรียกว่าอธยายที่หนึ่งร้อยห้า ผู้ใดไม่ปฏิบัติตามสิ่งที่บัญญัติไว้ เสพสิ่งที่ถูกติเตียน และไม่สำรวมอินทรีย์ ผู้นั้นย่อมถึงความเสื่อมตก.
Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)
Concept: Anuṣṭhāna of prescribed duties, avoidance of nindita acts, and restraint of senses are essential to prevent patana (fall).
Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and karma-yoga as prerequisites for citta-śuddhi; negligence (pramāda) as a cause of bondage.
Application: Keep daily/seasonal duties consistently, avoid known harmful habits, and adopt practical sense-restraints (diet, speech, media, sexuality, spending) with accountability.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (chapter on consequences of non-performance and prohibited conduct)
FAQs
This verse explicitly lists lack of sense restraint as a direct cause of patana (downfall), placing self-control alongside duty-performance as essential for dharmic life.
It frames karmic decline as beginning with three roots—neglecting prescribed duties, indulging in condemned acts, and uncontrolled senses—conditions that generate demerit and lead to suffering rather than upliftment.
Do the basic duties you know are right, avoid clearly harmful/forbidden habits, and practice daily sense-discipline (food, speech, sexuality, and consumption) to prevent ethical and spiritual decline.