Shloka 17

Determination of Expiations for Sexual Transgressions and Improper Associations

Devanagari script

परांगनां यदागच्छेत्कृच्छ्रं सांतपनं चरेत् । यथार्गला तथा योषित्तस्मात्तां परिवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

parāṃganāṃ yadāgacchetkṛcchraṃ sāṃtapanaṃ caret | yathārgalā tathā yoṣittasmāttāṃ parivarjayet

Translation

หากผู้ใดไปหาสตรีของผู้อื่น พึงบำเพ็ญตบะหนักชื่อกฤจฉระ และประกอบการชำระบาปสานตปนะด้วย สตรีของผู้อื่นดุจสลักกลอนขวางทาง; เพราะฉะนั้นพึงเว้นเสีย

Word by Word

पराङ्गनाम्another man’s woman / a woman of another (man)

यदाwhen

आगच्छेत्should come/approach

कृच्छ्रम्a penance called kṛcchra / hardship-penance

सान्तपनम्the sāntapana penance

चरेत्should practice/perform

यथाas/like

अर्गलाa bolt/bar (obstruction)

तथाso/likewise

योषित्a woman

तस्मात्therefore/from that reason

ताम्her/that (woman)

परिवर्जयेत्should avoid/shun

Speaker

Unspecified (didactic narration within Brahma-khaṇḍa context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: यदागच्छेत् = यदा + आगच्छेत्; योषित्तस्मात्तां = योषित् + तस्मात् + ताम्.

FAQs

What ethical teaching is emphasized in this verse?

It warns against approaching another person’s spouse and frames it as a serious moral transgression requiring expiation, while urging complete avoidance of the temptation.

What are Kṛcchra and Sāntapana in this context?

They are traditional prāyaścitta (expiatory) austerities prescribed in Dharma literature; this verse states they should be undertaken if the offense of approaching another’s woman is committed.

Why does the verse compare ‘yoṣit’ to an ‘argalā’ (bolt/obstruction)?

The simile presents illicit attraction as an obstruction that blocks one’s dharmic progress, urging restraint and avoidance rather than indulgence.