Shloka 3

Kālin̄dī’s Austerity; True Tapas and Prāyaścitta; Kṛṣṇa’s Grace and Marriage

Devanagari script

तप आलोचनं प्रोक्तं तत्त्वानां च विनिर्णयः / पूर्वार्जितानां पापानामनुतापस्तपः स्मृतम्

Transliteration

tapa ālocanaṃ proktaṃ tattvānāṃ ca vinirṇayaḥ / pūrvārjitānāṃ pāpānāmanutāpastapaḥ smṛtam

Translation

ตปัส (ตบะ) กล่าวกันว่าเป็นการพิจารณาตนและวินิจฉัยตัตตวะให้ถูกต้อง; และความสำนึกผิดต่อบาปที่สั่งสมมาแต่ก่อนก็ถูกจดจำว่าเป็นตบะเช่นกัน।

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity (tapas)
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• आलोचनम्: reflection, consideration
• आलोचनम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-लॊच् (धातु) → आलोचन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; समानााधिकरण—‘तपः’ इत्यस्य व्याख्या

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta—Past Passive Participle (क्त); Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; कर्मणि—‘is said’

• तत्त्वानाम्: of the principles/truths
• तत्त्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya—conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• विनिर्णयः: ascertainment, determination
• विनिर्णयः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-निर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; समानााधिकरण—‘तपः’ इत्यस्य व्याख्या

• पूर्व-अर्जितानाम्: of previously acquired
• पूर्व-अर्जितानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; विशेषण—‘पापानाम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• पापानाम्: of sins
• पापानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• अनुतापः: remorse, repentance
• अनुतापः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; समानााधिकरण—‘तपः’ इत्यस्य व्याख्या

• तपः: tapas
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• स्मृतम्: is regarded as
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta—Past Passive Participle (क्त); Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana; कर्मणि—‘is considered/remembered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas is not mere physical hardship; it is self-examination, discernment of tattvas, and remorseful repentance for past sins.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of the inner instrument) as prerequisites for higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Daily self-review, confession/acknowledgment of harmful actions, corrective vows, and study that clarifies principles before undertaking external austerities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa / Dharma sections): emphasis that inner restraint and repentance constitute true tapas/prāyaścitta (cf. adjacent 3.21.4).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of tapas in Garuda Purana?

This verse defines tapas not merely as physical hardship but as inner discipline—self-examination, discernment of truth (tattva), and sincere repentance for past sins—making it a core method of karmic purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing repentance for previously accumulated sins, the verse points to inner transformation as a means to lessen the weight of papa that conditions the soul’s post-death experience and moral trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily self-review, study principles that clarify right and wrong, and cultivate genuine remorse followed by corrective action—treating inner reform itself as tapas.