Shloka 39

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

कृच्छ्रत्रयं गुरुः कुर्यान्म्रियेत् प्रहितो यदि / प्रतिकूलं गुरोः कृत्वा प्रसाद्यैव विशुध्यति

Transliteration

kṛcchratrayaṃ guruḥ kuryānmriyet prahito yadi / pratikūlaṃ guroḥ kṛtvā prasādyaiva viśudhyati

Translation

اگر گُرو کے بھیجے ہوئے شِشْیَ کی موت ہو جائے تو گُرو کو تین کِرِچّھر پرایَشچِت کرنے چاہییں۔ اور جس نے گُرو کے خلاف برتاؤ کیا ہو وہ صرف گُرو کی رضا و کرپا (پرساد) حاصل کرنے سے ہی پاک ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• कृच्छ्रत्रयम्: three Kṛcchra penances
• कृच्छ्रत्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—त्रयः कृच्छ्राः (three Kṛcchra penances)

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• म्रियेत्: should die
• म्रियेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• प्रहितः: (if) sent/commissioned
• प्रहितः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + हि (धातु) → प्रहित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘sent/commissioned’

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक अव्यय (conditional particle)

• प्रतिकूलम्: something adverse
• प्रतिकूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• प्रसाद्य: having propitiated
• प्रसाद्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु) → प्रसाद्य (ल्यप्-प्रत्यय, अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); अर्थः—‘having pleased/propitiated’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विशुध्यति: is purified
• विशुध्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Moral responsibility in hierarchical sacred relationships: the guru performs expiation for a disciple’s death on assignment; purification for opposing the guru comes through seeking and obtaining the guru’s prasāda (grace).

Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā and surrender to the teacher as a gateway to knowledge; removal of doṣa through humility and restoration of right relationship.

Application: Leaders/teachers accept accountability for those under their charge; when one wrongs a mentor/elder, seek direct reconciliation, apology, and corrective action rather than mere formalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: gurukula/āśrama setting (implicit)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (guru-doṣa and prāyaścitta rules)

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of guru-prasada (the guru’s grace) in Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that wrongdoing against the guru is not cleansed merely by austerity; purification is completed by reconciliation—seeking forgiveness and restoring harmony through the guru’s approval.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on karma and expiation?

It reflects the Purana’s dharma framework where specific faults require specific prayashchitta; here, the guru’s role is central, and relational harm (disrespect/defiance) is rectified through making amends, not only through ritual penance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor teachers and mentors, avoid acting against their ethical guidance, and if a breach occurs, take responsibility, apologize sincerely, and correct conduct—because moral repair and restored trust are part of true purification.