Shloka 8
Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems
यस्तत्र भुङ्क्ते पक्वान्नं कृच्छ्रार्धं तस्य दापयेत् / तेषामपि च यो भुङ्क्ते कृच्छ्रपादो विधीयते
yastatra bhuṅkte pakvānnaṃ kṛcchrārdhaṃ tasya dāpayet / teṣāmapi ca yo bhuṅkte kṛcchrapādo vidhīyate
ผู้ใดที่นั่นบริโภคอาหารสุก พึงให้ผู้นั้นปฏิบัติการชดบาปกฤจฉระ (Kṛcchra) ครึ่งหนึ่ง และผู้ใดบริโภคอาหารของคนเหล่านั้นด้วย ก็ทรงบัญญัติให้ทำกฤจฉระหนึ่งในสี่เป็นการไถ่บาป
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in a dharma-prāyaścitta instruction section)
Concept: Food-contact (anna-sambandha) creates ritual fault; expiation is graded by degree of participation.
Vedantic Theme: Karma as subtle causality (samskara) requiring purification to restore adhikara for Vedic life.
Application: Maintain discernment in accepting food; if transgressed, perform proportionate prayashchitta rather than denial or concealment.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (prayashchitta section on food and contact impurities)
FAQs
This verse shows that even seemingly ordinary acts like eating cooked food in a restricted/impure context require proportionate expiation, emphasizing purity, restraint, and accountability in dharma.
It frames the consequence not as a permanent condemnation but as a graded corrective measure—half Kṛcchra for the direct eater in that setting, and quarter Kṛcchra for one who partakes of their food—linking action to a measured remedy.
Be mindful about food sources and contexts (cleanliness, ethical sourcing, ritual propriety); if a lapse occurs, respond with self-discipline, corrective practice, and renewed commitment to dharmic conduct.