Shloka 33

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं वापि वत्सरत्रितयं चरेत् / वैश्यहाब्दं च (ब्दांश्च) रेदेतद्दद्याद्वैकशतं गवाम्

Transliteration

brahmahatyāvrataṃ vāpi vatsaratritayaṃ caret / vaiśyahābdaṃ ca (bdāṃśca) redetaddadyādvaikaśataṃ gavām

Translation

برہمن کے قتل (برہماہتیا) کے کفّارے کا ورت تین برس تک کیا جائے۔ ویشیہ کے قتل پر ایک برس (یا مقررہ حصّہ مدت) تک کفّارہ ادا کرے اور کفّارے میں سو گائیں دان کرے۔

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्याव्रतम्: the brahmahatyā penance
• ब्रह्महत्याव्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'vow/penance for brahmahatyā'

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक-निपात

• वत्सरत्रितयम्: three years
• वत्सरत्रितयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सर (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'a triad of years' (= three years)

• चरेत्: should practice/undertake
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वैश्यहा: one who killed a vaiśya
• वैश्यहा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'हन्' धातोः क्तिन्/घञ्-प्रत्ययान्त-भावे न, किन्तु 'हा' (killer) इति कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'killer of a vaiśya'

• अब्दम्: for a year
• अब्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; 'year'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: 'and')

• रेदेत्: should perform (reading uncertain)
• रेदेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: री (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; पाठभेद/दूषितपाठ-सूचना: 'रेदेत्' सम्भवतः 'चरेत्' अथवा 'व्रजेत्/वसेत्' इत्यादि अपेक्षितम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• एकशतम्: one hundred
• एकशतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'one hundred'

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic gravity is graded: brahma-hatyā demands multi-year vrata; other killings require proportionate austerity and dāna.

Vedantic Theme: Mala-śodhana (purification of mind) through tapas; recognition that ethical rupture obstructs sattva and spiritual progress.

Application: For severe wrongdoing, adopt long-term corrective practice (behavioral reform, service, restitution) rather than quick symbolic gestures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (graded prāyaścitta scheme; cow-gifts as expiation)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmin (Brāhmaṇa)
• Vaiśya
• Cows (Gāvaḥ)

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta (atonement) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames prāyaścitta as a dharmic remedy: serious harms require sustained vows (vrata) and restitution through dāna, aligning the doer back toward moral order.

How does this verse relate to the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s teaching on consequences of sin?

While later sections describe post-death consequences, this verse emphasizes a preventative and corrective path in life—undertaking penance and giving charity to address grave wrongdoing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat wrongdoing as requiring real repair: sustained self-discipline, sincere repentance, and meaningful restitution/charity proportional to the harm caused.