Shloka 4

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas (Great Sins), Vows, Tīrtha, and Sin-Destroying Observances

Devanagari script

ज्वलन्तं वा विशेदग्निं जलं वा प्रविशेत्स्वयम् / ब्राह्मणार्थे गवार्थे वा सम्यक् प्राणान्परित्यजेत्

Transliteration

jvalantaṃ vā viśedagniṃ jalaṃ vā praviśetsvayam / brāhmaṇārthe gavārthe vā samyak prāṇānparityajet

Translation

کوئی دہکتی آگ میں داخل ہو یا خود پانی میں اتر جائے؛ مگر برہمن کے لیے یا گایوں کے لیے ہی، دھرم کے مطابق، اپنے پرانوں کا ترک کرنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• jvalantam: blazing
• jvalantam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jval (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• viśet: should enter
• viśet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• praviśet: should enter
• praviśet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + viś (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• svayam: oneself
• svayam: Kartṛ-prayojaka (Agent-emphasis/कर्तृ-बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक (reflexive adverb: ‘oneself’)

• brāhmaṇa-arthe: for the sake of a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇa-arthe: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (brāhmaṇāya arthaḥ = for a Brahmin’s sake); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (in the sense of purpose)

• gav-arthe: for the sake of a cow
• gav-arthe: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (gave arthaḥ = for a cow’s sake); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• samyak: properly; completely
• samyak: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘properly/fully’)

• prāṇān: life-breaths; life
• prāṇān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• parityajet: should give up; should renounce
• parityajet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + tyaj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Legitimacy of self-sacrifice is conditional: only for dharmic ends (protection of brāhmaṇa and go).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma-niyama over impulse; tyāga guided by sattva and right intention rather than despair.

Application: Do not romanticize self-harm; uphold the principle that extreme acts are justified only by clear ethical necessity and protection of the vulnerable/sacred.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: liminal element-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma sections that qualify severe penances with intent and righteous cause

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Go (cow)

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting cows and supporting Brāhmaṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the welfare of cows and Brāhmaṇas as such a high dharmic priority that even the giving up of one’s life may be considered a righteous act when done specifically for their protection.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

By emphasizing “samyak” (rightly), it implies intention and dharmic context shape karmic outcomes—death undertaken for a sanctioned righteous cause is framed as meritorious rather than harmful, affecting one’s post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize courageous, ethical protection of the vulnerable (including animals) and support of genuine spiritual learning—through lawful, non-harmful means—while understanding that dharma values motive, responsibility, and proper conduct.