Shloka 70

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

यथाकथञ्चित्पिण्डानां चत्वारिंशच्छतद्वयम् / मासेनैवोपभुञ्जीत चान्द्रायणमथापरम्

Transliteration

yathākathañcitpiṇḍānāṃ catvāriṃśacchatadvayam / māsenaivopabhuñjīta cāndrāyaṇamathāparam

Translation

کسی نہ کسی طرح ایک ہی مہینے میں دو سو چالیس پِنڈوں کو ادا کر کے خود بھی تناول کرے؛ پھر ایک دوسرے انُشٹھان کے طور پر چاندْرایَن ورت بھی اختیار کرے۔

Word by Word

• यथाकथञ्चित्: somehow / in any manner
• यथाकथञ्चित्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + कथम् (अव्यय) + चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययसमूह (adverbial phrase) — ‘somehow/anyhow’

• पिण्डानाम्: of the balls/lumps
• पिण्डानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• चत्वारिंशत्: forty
• चत्वारिंशत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-शब्द; (समासपूर्वपद) ‘forty’

• शतद्वयम्: two hundred
• शतद्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — nominative/accusative singular; तत्पुरुष (‘two hundreds’)

• मासेन: within a month / by a month
• मासेन: Adhikarana (Time-span/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — instrumental singular

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• उपभुञ्जीत: should consume/enjoy
• उपभुञ्जीत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चान्द्रायणम्: Cāndrāyaṇa penance
• चान्द्रायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• अथ: then / now
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• अपरम्: another / further
• अपरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular; विशेषण of चान्द्रायणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: Within one lunar month (māsa).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Quantified prāyaścitta: completing a fixed total (240) within a month; perseverance within constraints.

Vedantic Theme: Abhyāsa (repeated practice) stabilizes the mind; karma performed with niyama becomes purifying.

Application: Set a clear total and timeframe for corrective practice; plan logistics to avoid failure; maintain sincerity over display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.69 (waxing/waning regulation); Garuda Purana 1.105.71 (bath and mantra consecration)

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes disciplined, time-bound piṇḍa offerings as a key śrāddha-related act, treating piṇḍa-dāna as a concrete ritual support within the broader post-death and purification framework.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-focused teaching context, prescribed offerings and vows are presented as ritual duties that aid the proper ordering of post-death rites and the family’s dharmic responsibility toward the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If undertaking śrāddha-related observances, follow a consistent, rule-based approach under qualified guidance, and pair external ritual discipline with inner restraint and ethical living (a modern parallel to Cāndrāyaṇa’s self-regulation).