Shloka 20

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances

Devanagari script

पष्ठ्यामुपोषितो देवं शुक्लपक्षे समाहितः / सप्तम्यामर्चयेद्भानुं मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

Transliteration

paṣṭhyāmupoṣito devaṃ śuklapakṣe samāhitaḥ / saptamyāmarcayedbhānuṃ mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Translation

ในวันษัษฐีแห่งศุกลปักษ์พึงถืออุโบสถด้วยจิตตั้งมั่น และในวันสัปตมีพึงบูชาภานุ (พระสุริยเทพ) แล้วจักพ้นจากบาปทั้งปวง

Word by Word

• पष्ठ्याम्: on the sixth lunar day
• पष्ठ्याम्: Adhikarana (Time locus/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• उपोषितः: having fasted
• उपोषितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + वस् (धातु) → उपोषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (one who has fasted)

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• शुक्लपक्षे: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्लपक्षे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शुक्लस्य पक्षः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• समाहितः: attentive, composed
• समाहितः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (composed)

• सप्तम्याम्: on the seventh lunar day
• सप्तम्याम्: Adhikarana (Time locus/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भानुम्: the Sun
• भानुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• सर्वपातकैः: from all sins
• सर्वपातकैः: Apadana (Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पातक (प्रातिपदिक); कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वाणि पातकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Fasting on ṣaṣṭhī (bright fortnight) and worshiping the Sun on saptamī removes sins—discipline joined to deity-upāsanā.

Vedantic Theme: Devotion to a cosmic manifestation (āditya/tejas) as a support for inner clarity; karma-bhakti synergy for citta-śuddhi.

Application: Observe a measured fast on ṣaṣṭhī; on saptamī perform sunrise/forenoon arcanā (arghya, mantra, gratitude), keeping mind focused and conduct pure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata calendars and deity-specific expiations; Sūrya-vrata/Saptamī observances

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Surya (Bhanu)

FAQs

What is the importance of Saptamī (the seventh lunar day) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Saptamī as a potent day for Sūrya (Bhānu) worship, especially when preceded by a focused fast on Ṣaṣṭhī in the bright fortnight, leading to the removal of sinful demerit (pātaka).

How does this verse relate to purification from sins (pātaka) in the Garuda Purana?

It frames disciplined observance—fasting (upoṣa) with mental steadiness (samāhita) and ritual worship (arcana) of the Sun—as a form of prāyaścitta that frees one from accumulated sins.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe a simple fast or restraint on Ṣaṣṭhī of Śukla Pakṣa, and on Saptamī offer respectful Sūrya worship (e.g., arghya, mantra, and ethical resolve), using the practice as a commitment to self-discipline and moral conduct.