Shloka 8

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

रजस्वलामुखास्वादः सुरापानसमानि तु / अश्वरत्नादिहरणं सुवर्णस्तेयसंमितम्

Transliteration

rajasvalāmukhāsvādaḥ surāpānasamāni tu / aśvaratnādiharaṇaṃ suvarṇasteyasaṃmitam

Translation

حیض والی عورت کے منہ کا لذت لینا شراب نوشی کے برابر گناہ سمجھا گیا ہے؛ اور گھوڑے، جواہرات وغیرہ چرانا سونے کی چوری کے ہم پلہ کہا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• रजस्वलामुखास्वादः: tasting the mouth (kiss/oral contact) of a menstruating woman
• रजस्वलामुखास्वादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रजस्वलायाः मुखस्य आस्वादः)

• सुरापानसमानि: equal to drinking liquor
• सुरापानसमानि: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक) + समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुरायाः पानं) + समानि (सम-विशेषण)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• अश्वरत्नादिहरणम्: stealing horses, jewels, etc.
• अश्वरत्नादिहरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अश्व-रत्न-आदि-हरणम् = stealing of horse, jewels, etc.)

• सुवर्णस्तेयसंमितम्: equivalent to theft of gold
• सुवर्णस्तेयसंमितम्: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक) + संमित (कृदन्त/ppp from √मा with सम्-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुवर्णस्य स्तेयम्) + संमितम् (समं/तुल्यम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain impure/forbidden sexual-contact acts and thefts are graded by equivalence to well-known mahāpātakas (surāpāna, suvarṇa-steya) to enforce restraint and social order.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma strengthens rajas/tamas and binds the jīva through karma; purity and restraint support sattva conducive to higher pursuit.

Application: Maintain boundaries around purity observances; avoid exploitative/forbidden sensual acts; uphold honesty and respect for others’ property, especially high-value theft.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sin-taxonomies where surāpāna and suvarṇa-steya serve as benchmark mahāpātakas (general parallel passages)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sin-equivalence (pāpa-sāmya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows how the text classifies actions by severity, equating certain sexual/ritual transgressions with surā-pāna and major theft, to guide ethical restraint and repentance.

How does this verse relate to consequences after death in Garuda Purana teachings?

By defining actions as equal to major sins like liquor-drinking and gold-theft, the verse implies corresponding heavy karmic consequences that are later described in terms of Yama’s judgment and post-death suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat bodily/ritual boundaries and others’ property with seriousness: avoid exploitative intimacy and all forms of theft or misappropriation, recognizing that “small” acts can carry “major” ethical weight.