Shloka 72

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

अनादिष्टेषु पापेषु शुद्धिश्चान्द्रायणेन तु / धर्मार्थो यश्चरेदेतच्चन्द्रस्यैति सलोकताम्

Transliteration

anādiṣṭeṣu pāpeṣu śuddhiścāndrāyaṇena tu / dharmārtho yaścaredetaccandrasyaiti salokatām

Translation

جن گناہوں کے لیے کوئی خاص کفّارہ مقرر نہیں، اُن کی پاکیزگی چاندْرایَن ورت سے ہوتی ہے۔ جو اسے دھرم کے لیے کرے وہ چندرلوک (چاند کی دنیا) پاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• anādiṣṭeṣu: in unspecified
• anādiṣṭeṣu: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-ādiṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √diś (धातु) + kta, with negation an-)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; adjective qualifying pāpeṣu; meaning 'not prescribed/unspecified'

• pāpeṣu: sins
• pāpeṣu: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• śuddhiḥ: purification
• śuddhiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• cāndrāyaṇena: by the Cāndrāyaṇa (penance)
• cāndrāyaṇena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāndrāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• dharmārthaḥ: one whose aim is dharma
• dharmārthaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + artha (प्रातिपदिक; components)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध: 'artha of dharma' i.e., one whose aim is dharma

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• caret: should perform/practise
• caret: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of caret

• candrasya: of the Moon (Candra)
• candrasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• aiti: goes/attains
• aiti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• salokatām: the state of being in the same world
• salokatām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa-lokatā (प्रातिपदिक; sa- prefix + lokatā)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; abstract noun meaning 'state of being in the same world'

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For unclassified sins, Cāndrāyaṇa functions as a general expiation; dharma-intent yields celestial fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (lawful fruition of action) under dharma; purification as eligibility for higher states.

Application: When unsure of a specific expiation, undertake a regulated, traditional vow under guidance, with dharma as the motive rather than display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (Prāyaścitta context: Cāndrāyaṇa, Kṛcchra and related vows)

Characters & Entities

• Candra

FAQs

What is the importance of Cāndrāyaṇa prāyaścitta in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents Cāndrāyaṇa as a general expiation when a specific remedy for a sin is not stated, emphasizing it as a reliable purification practice.

How does this verse explain spiritual progress or destiny after death?

It links disciplined expiation done with dharmic intent to a posthumous attainment—salokya with Candra—showing that ethical motivation and penance shape one’s afterlife destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When unsure how to atone for a wrongdoing, adopt a sincere, disciplined corrective vow or austerity guided by dharma and qualified counsel, focusing on inner reform rather than mere ritual.