Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations
Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa
भृत्याचाध्ययनादानं भृतकाध्या पनन्तथा / पारदार्यं पारिवित्त्यं वार्धुष्यं लवणक्रिया
bhṛtyācādhyayanādānaṃ bhṛtakādhyā panantathā / pāradāryaṃ pārivittyaṃ vārdhuṣyaṃ lavaṇakriyā
Ang pagtuturo kapalit ng upa; pagtanggap ng handog bilang kapalit ng pag-aaral; gayundin ang pag-upa sa iba upang magturo; pakikiapid sa asawa ng iba; pag-aasawa bago ang nakatatandang kapatid na lalaki (paglabag sa wastong kaayusan); pagpapautang na may tubo; at ang masamang kalakalan o gawaing may kaugnayan sa asin—ang mga ito’y binibilang na mga gawang kapintasan.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Concept: Dharma is harmed by selling sacred knowledge, transactional study-gifts, hired teaching, adultery, violating marriage order, usury, and censured trades (salt-related).
Vedantic Theme: Purity of means (sattvika ajiva) supports inner clarity; greed and lust intensify rajas/tamas, obstructing bhakti and jnana.
Application: Keep education and counsel ethically grounded; avoid exploitative interest, respect family order and marital boundaries; choose livelihoods aligned with integrity.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of nindita-ajiva (censured livelihoods) and sexual misconduct as papa causes; Garuda Purana: dharma sections on brahmana conduct and purity of teaching/receiving
This verse functions as a dharma-checklist: it names specific behaviors and livelihoods considered blameworthy, helping a person avoid karmic fault and its consequences.
By identifying concrete adharma (misconduct and improper earning), the text sets the moral causes that later chapters connect to suffering, judgment, and remedial rites.
Keep livelihood and relationships ethical: avoid exploitation (e.g., usury), avoid harming families through infidelity, and treat sacred learning as a duty rather than a commercial transaction.