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Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 41

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

महापापोपपापाभ्यां योभिशस्तो मृषा परम् / अब्भक्षो मासमासीत स जापी नियतन्द्रियः

Transliteration

mahāpāpopapāpābhyāṃ yobhiśasto mṛṣā param / abbhakṣo māsamāsīta sa jāpī niyatandriyaḥ

Translation

凡被诬指犯下大罪与小罪者——尤以虚妄之言所致——当以一月之期唯饮清水而住，勤修持诵（japa），并摄伏诸根，使身心受持清净。

Word by Word
महापापोपपापाभ्याम्by great sins and minor sins
महापापोपपापाभ्याम्:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमहापाप (प्रातिपदिक) + उपपाप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः—महापापं च उपपापं च; करणत्वेन
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)
अभिशस्तःaccused
अभिशस्तः:
Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअभि + शंस् (धातु) → अभिशस्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘accused/denounced’
मृषाfalsely
मृषा:
Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमृषा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverb)
परम्utterly
परम्:
Sambandha (Intensifier/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय—अत्यर्थे/पर्याप्त्यर्थे (intensifier: ‘excessively/utterly’)
अब्भक्षःone who takes only water
अब्भक्षः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअप्/अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—अद्भिः भक्ष्यते/भक्षयति इति (one who subsists on water)
मासम्for a month
मासम्:
Karma (Extent of time/कालाधिकरण-रूप कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कालावधि (duration)
आसीतshould remain
आसीत:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootआस् (धातु)
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ्-आदेशार्थे लुङ्-रूपसदृशम् (आशीर्लिङ्/विध्यर्थ प्रयोगः), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; अर्थः—‘should sit/remain’
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
जापीa reciter (of mantra)
जापी:
Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootजपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; जपकर्ता (one engaged in recitation)
नियतन्द्रियःwith controlled senses
नियतन्द्रियः:
Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनियत (कृदन्त, नि+यम् धातु, क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—नियतानीन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When accused (especially falsely) of grave/minor sins, one undertakes a month of water-only living with japa and sense-restraint—purification through tapas and mantra.

Vedantic Theme: Tapas and dama (sense-control) purify the mind; endurance under blame cultivates titikṣā and sattva, supporting higher pursuit.

Application: When facing serious allegations, maintain disciplined conduct, avoid reactive harm, and adopt structured self-purification/ethical review; combine inner practice (japa/meditation) with transparent accountability processes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (prāyaścitta for accusations and purification by fasting/japa)

FAQs

This verse presents prayaschitta as a practical means of purification—combining austerity (water-only fasting), mantra-japa, and sense-restraint to counteract the karmic weight of grave and minor sins connected with falsehood.

By prescribing expiation for serious wrongdoing, it implies that karmic consequences can be mitigated through disciplined corrective action, supporting a dharmic path that reduces suffering tied to sinful acts.

Adopt truthful speech, and when one has caused harm through dishonesty, undertake a structured period of restraint—simple diet/fasting as appropriate, daily japa or prayer, and conscious control of impulses—paired with ethical correction.

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