Shloka 28

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

आत्मतुल्यं सुवर्णं वा दत्त्वा शुद्धिमियाद्द्विजः / शयने सार्धमायस्या योषिता निभृतं स्वपेत्

Transliteration

ātmatulyaṃ suvarṇaṃ vā dattvā śuddhimiyāddvijaḥ / śayane sārdhamāyasyā yoṣitā nibhṛtaṃ svapet

Translation

พราหมณ์ย่อมได้ความบริสุทธิ์ด้วยการถวายทองคำเท่าค่าตนเอง; จากนั้นพึงนอนอย่างสงบและมิดชิดบนที่นอนร่วมกับภรรยา

Word by Word

• आत्मतुल्यम्: equal to oneself (in value)
• आत्मतुल्यम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः तुल्यम्)

• सुवर्णम्: gold
• सुवर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विकल्पार्थक (or)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शुद्धिम्: purification
• शुद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इयात्: would attain
• इयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• द्विजः: the Brahmin
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शयने: on the bed
• शयने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: पूर्वपद-प्रयोगे सहार्थक अव्यय (adverb/preposition: 'together with')

• आयस्याः: of a woman of iron (i.e., menstruating/impure; lit. iron-like)
• आयस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयस् (प्रातिपदिक) → आयसी (स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• योषिता: with a woman
• योषिता: Sahakari (Companion/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• निभृतम्: secretly
• निभृतम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निभृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: 'secretly')

• स्वपेत्: should sleep
• स्वपेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Restitutional expiation: giving gold equal to one’s value (ātmatulya) brings śuddhi; thereafter conduct should be discreet and regulated.

Vedantic Theme: Karma is mitigated through corrective action and self-restraint; purification supports sattva and inner peace.

Application: Make proportionate restitution for harm; after resolving wrongdoing, return to life with modesty, boundaries, and self-control.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: home/bedchamber

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (sequence of prāyaścittas for sins)

FAQs

What is the importance of suvarṇa-dāna (donation of gold) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents suvarṇa-dāna, proportionate to one’s capacity (“equal to oneself”), as a direct means to regain śuddhi (ritual/moral purification) after a fault requiring expiation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing prāyaścitta and restoration of purity through dāna, it supports the Purāṇic principle that ethical-ritual rectification reduces negative karmic consequences that can obstruct the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake proportionate charity as an act of restitution and purification, and observe discretion and propriety in household life—aligning personal conduct with dharma after making amends.