Shloka 45

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

प्राणायामत्रयं कुर्यात्खरयानोष्ट्रयानगः / नग्नः स्नात्वा च सुप्त्वा च गत्वा चैव दिवा स्त्रियम्

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmatrayaṃ kuryātkharayānoṣṭrayānagaḥ / nagnaḥ snātvā ca suptvā ca gatvā caiva divā striyam

Translation

جو گدھے یا اونٹ پر سوار ہوا ہو وہ تین طرح کا پرانایام کرے؛ نیز ننگا ہونے پر، غسل کے بعد، نیند کے بعد، اور دن میں عورت کے پاس جانے کے بعد بھی پرانایام کرے۔

Word by Word

• prāṇāyāma-trayam: three breath-controls
• prāṇāyāma-trayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇāyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘प्राणायामानां त्रयम्’

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• khara-yāna-uṣṭra-yāna-gaḥ: one who rides on a donkey or camel
• khara-yāna-uṣṭra-yāna-gaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक) + yāna (प्रातिपदिक) + uṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक) + yāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (प्रातिपदिक; √gam गम् + ड)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (खरयान + उष्ट्रयान) ततः ‘-ग’ प्रत्ययेन ‘याने गच्छति/यानेन याति’

• nagnaḥ: naked
• nagnaḥ: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nagna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तृविशेषण)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (स्ना) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; अर्थः ‘स्नात्वा’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• suptvā: having slept
• suptvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √svap (स्वप्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; अर्थः ‘सुप्त्वा’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; अर्थः ‘गत्वा’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• divā: by day
• divā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: divā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: by day)

• striyam: a woman
• striyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue instructing Garuḍa/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Threefold prāṇāyāma functions as prāyaścitta/śauca after certain acts considered polluting or socially improper.

Vedantic Theme: Prāṇa-niyama supports mind-clarity; outer śauca paired with inner śuddhi via regulated breath.

Application: Use brief, structured breath practice as a corrective ‘reset’ after impure/unstable states; maintain awareness of context-appropriate conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (purificatory acts; prāṇāyāma as expiation)

FAQs

What is the importance of prāṇāyāma in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents prāṇāyāma as an immediate inner purification practice (śauca/prāyaścitta) to restore ritual fitness after certain actions and bodily states.

How does this verse relate to karma and purity in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

Rather than describing afterlife scenes, it addresses conduct (ācāra): actions that disturb ritual purity are balanced by disciplined breath-control, reinforcing dharmic self-regulation that supports good karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use brief, mindful breath regulation as a reset after sleep or bodily agitation, and treat it as a reminder to maintain self-discipline and cleanliness before spiritual practice.