Shloka 32

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

विप्रः पञ्चशतं जप्यं गायत्र्याः क्षत्रियस्य च शतं विप्रश्च भुक्त्वान्नं पानपात्रेण सूतके

Transliteration

vipraḥ pañcaśataṃ japyaṃ gāyatryāḥ kṣatriyasya ca śataṃ vipraśca bhuktvānnaṃ pānapātreṇa sūtake

Translation

Ang isang brāhmaṇa ay dapat mag-japa ng Gāyatrī nang limang daang ulit, at ang isang kṣatriya nang isang daang ulit. At kung ang isang brāhmaṇa ay kumain ng pagkain sa panahon ng sūtaka (ritwal na karumihan), gamit ang sisidlang inuman, dapat niyang isagawa ang itinakdang pagbigkas na pantubos-sala.

Word by Word

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पञ्चशतम्: five hundred
• पञ्चशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः द्विगु (पञ्च शतानि)

• जप्यम्: to be recited
• जप्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्य (कृदन्त; यत्/ण्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण — 'to be recited'

• गायत्र्याः: of the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्र्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• क्षत्रियस्य: of a kṣatriya
• क्षत्रियस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• शतम्: one hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — 'having eaten'

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पानपात्रेण: with a drinking vessel
• पानपात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (पानस्य पात्रम्)

• सूतके: during impurity (sūtaka)
• सूतके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-japa (Gāyatrī) functions as expiation; prescribed counts vary by varṇa; ritual impurity breaches (sūtaka) require corrective recitation.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as purifier; disciplined repetition steadies mind (citta-śuddhi) and supports dharmic life as preparation for higher realization.

Application: Use structured spiritual practice (daily japa/recitation) as a corrective when one violates personal vows or community norms; keep clear counts and consistency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/domestic setting (sūtaka context)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222 (japa-based prāyaścitta; sūtaka-related correction)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Vipra)
• Kshatriya
• Gayatri
• Sutaka

FAQs

What is the importance of Gāyatrī-japa as expiation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Gāyatrī recitation as a primary means of purification and expiation (prāyaścitta), prescribing specific counts according to varṇa and impurity context.

How does this verse relate to death-related impurity (sūtaka) practices?

By mentioning sūtaka, it situates mantra-japa within the rules of ritual impurity that commonly arise after a death (or birth) in the family, indicating recitation as a corrective discipline when purity norms are breached.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain mindfulness about ritual/ethical discipline during periods of family disruption, and use regular mantra recitation and corrective practices to restore steadiness, cleanliness, and composure.