Shloka 66

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रं पयसा दिवसानेकविंशतिम् / द्वादशाहोपवासैश्च पराकः समुदाहृतः

Transliteration

kṛcchrātikṛcchraṃ payasā divasānekaviṃśatim / dvādaśāhopavāsaiśca parākaḥ samudāhṛtaḥ

Translation

ตบะที่เรียกว่า “ปรากะ” กล่าวไว้ว่า คือการปฏิบัติคริจฉฺร/อติ-กฤจฉฺรโดยยังชีพด้วยนมตลอดยี่สิบเอ็ดวัน พร้อมทั้งถือศีลอดอดอาหารสิบสองวัน

Word by Word

• कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रम्: (the observance of) kṛcchra and ati-kṛcchra
• कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र + अतिकृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (कृच्छ्रश्च अतिकृच्छ्रश्च)

• पयसा: with milk
• पयसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिवसान्: days
• दिवसान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• एकविंशतिम्: twenty-one
• एकविंशतिम्: Karma (Measure/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास; संख्यावाचक

• द्वादशाहोपवासैः: with twelve-day fasts
• द्वादशाहोपवासैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अहन् + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वादशाह-उपवासः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• पराकः: the parāka (penance)
• पराकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्रतनाम

• समुदाहृतः: is proclaimed
• समुदाहृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उद् + आ + √हृ (धातु) → समुदाहृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः—‘is proclaimed’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parāka: intensified kṛcchra—milk subsistence for 21 days plus a 12-day fast—aimed at expiating serious faults.

Vedantic Theme: Tapas as transformative discipline: purifying karma and strengthening will, enabling steadiness for spiritual pursuit.

Application: Recognize that severe penances are exceptional and traditionally supervised; in modern life, translate into sustained ethical repair, restitution, and disciplined simplicity rather than dangerous fasting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (Parāka definition within prāyaścitta ladder)

FAQs

What is the importance of Parāka (penance) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Parāka as a formal prāyaścitta involving strict dietary restraint and prolonged fasting, presenting it as a dharmic method of purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By prescribing prāyaścitta, the text indicates that moral and ritual purification in life helps reduce the burden of sins that otherwise shape post-death consequences described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined restraint—such as moderated diet, periodic fasting, and sincere repentance—according to one’s capacity and guidance, as a way to cultivate self-control and ethical living.