Shloka 42

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

अनियुक्तो भ्रातृभार्यां गच्छंश्चान्द्रायणं चरेत् / त्रिरात्रान्ते घृतं प्राश्य गत्वोदक्यां शुचिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

aniyukto bhrātṛbhāryāṃ gacchaṃścāndrāyaṇaṃ caret / trirātrānte ghṛtaṃ prāśya gatvodakyāṃ śucirbhavet

Translation

ผู้ใดโดยมิได้รับอนุญาตไปสมสู่กับภรรยาของพี่น้อง พึงบำเพ็ญพรตไถ่บาปจันทรายณะ ครั้นครบสามราตรีแล้วดื่มเนยใส แล้วลงอาบน้ำ จึงเป็นผู้บริสุทธิ์

Word by Word

• aniyuktaḥ: one who is not authorized/appointed
• aniyuktaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-niyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj युज् + नि उपसर्ग, क्त; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) नञ्-निषेधपूर्वक; अर्थः ‘अनादेशित/अननुज्ञात’

• bhrātṛ-bhāryām: brother’s wife
• bhrātṛ-bhāryām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘भ्रातुः भार्या’

• gacchan: going
• gacchan: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘गच्छन्’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• āndrāyaṇam: the Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• āndrāyaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āndrāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• caret: should perform/practice
• caret: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• trirātra-ante: at the end of three nights
• trirātra-ante: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘त्रीणां रात्राणाम् अन्ते’ (locative of time)

• ghṛtam: ghee
• ghṛtam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• prāśya: having eaten/consumed
• prāśya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prāś (प्राश्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); अर्थः ‘प्राश्य’ = भुक्त्वा/आस्वाद्य

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); अर्थः ‘गत्वा’

• udakyām: a menstruating woman
• udakyām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udakyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘उदक्य’ = रजस्वला/मासिकधर्मयुक्ता स्त्री

• śuciḥ: pure
• śuciḥ: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• bhavet: should become
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta (expiation) restores ritual and ethical purity after prohibited sexual conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Mala-śuddhi (removal of impurity) as a prerequisite for sattva and higher pursuit; karma’s stain can be attenuated by tapas and śuddhi.

Application: Avoid prohibited relations; if violated, undertake prescribed penance (Cāndrāyaṇa), observe restraint, complete the rite, and perform purificatory bath.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (Prāyaścitta/ācāra section; adjacent verses on expiations)

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta (expiation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows prāyaścitta as a corrective dharmic remedy: specific misconduct is met with a defined vow (Cāndrāyaṇa) and a purification sequence to restore ritual and moral purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links actions to consequences and remediation: wrongful conduct requires expiation, implying that unaddressed sins burden the jīva and affect post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It reinforces sexual ethics and accountability: avoid prohibited relationships, and when wrongdoing occurs, seek sincere correction through confession, restraint, and appropriate religious/ethical remediation under competent guidance.