Shloka 55

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

कृत्वोपवासं रेतोविण्मूत्राणां प्राशनेद्विजः / अज्ञानकृतपापस्य नाशः सन्ध्यात्रये कृते

Transliteration

kṛtvopavāsaṃ retoviṇmūtrāṇāṃ prāśanedvijaḥ / ajñānakṛtapāpasya nāśaḥ sandhyātraye kṛte

Translation

روزہ رکھ کر اگر دْوِج ودھی کے مطابق منی، پاخانہ اور پیشاب کا پراشن کرے، تو تینوں سندھیا کرم کرنے سے جہالت میں کیا گیا گناہ مٹ جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), पूर्वकाले (having done)

• उपवासम्: a fast
• उपवासम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रेतोविण्मूत्राणाम्: of semen, feces, and urine
• रेतोविण्मूत्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेतस् + विण् + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; रेतश्च विण्च मूत्रं च (of semen, feces, and urine)

• प्राशनेत्: should ingest
• प्राशनेत्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अज्ञानकृतपापस्य: of sin done in ignorance
• अज्ञानकृतपापस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान + कृत + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अज्ञानेन कृतं पापं यस्य/तत् (of sin committed in ignorance)

• नाशः: destruction
• नाशः: कर्ता/भाव (Subject—result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सन्ध्यात्रये: in the three sandhyā times
• सन्ध्यात्रये: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; त्रिषु सन्ध्यासु (in the three sandhyās)

• कृते: when performed
• कृते: सप्तमीसम्बन्ध (Locative absolute sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/सप्तमी एकवचन; लोकेषु—कृते (when done)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atonement for sins done in ignorance is effected through severe expiation combined with strict observance of sandhyā rites.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through tapas and niyama; ignorance (ajñāna) as a condition for lesser culpability, yet requiring purification to restore sattva.

Application: Interpret as a text-witness to extreme prayāścitta traditions; in practice, prioritize non-harmful, śāstrically and medically safe expiations under qualified guidance, with emphasis on repentance, restraint, and daily discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic ritual space or tīrtha context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (cluster of prayāścitta measures; sandhyā and japa recur as purifiers)

FAQs

What is the importance of Sandhyā-traya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links performing the three daily Sandhyā observances with the destruction of sins done in ignorance, presenting Sandhyā as a core daily expiatory discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing expiation and purification, it implies that unaddressed wrongdoing burdens the jīva, while prescribed atonement helps remove karmic obstacles that affect post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent daily spiritual discipline (regular prayer/ethical self-review), and when mistakes occur—especially unintended ones—seek corrective practices and renewed restraint rather than denial.