Shloka 44

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

त्रिः कृच्छ्रमाचरेद्व्रात्ययाजको ऽपि चरन्नपि / वेदप्लावी यवाश्यब्दं त्यक्त्वा च शरणागतान्

Transliteration

triḥ kṛcchramācaredvrātyayājako 'pi carannapi / vedaplāvī yavāśyabdaṃ tyaktvā ca śaraṇāgatān

Translation

即便是为“弗拉提亚”（vrātya，弃群者）主持祭祀的祭司，纵仍照常度日，也当行“Kṛcchra”苦行忏悔三次。同样，歪曲或滥用吠陀者，应舍弃卑下之语“yavāśya”，并不可抛弃前来归依求护之人。

Word by Word

• triḥ: thrice
• triḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: triḥ (अव्यय; त्रि-शब्दात्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (adverb of frequency)

• kṛcchram: the Kṛcchra penance
• kṛcchram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛcchra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रायश्चित्तविशेषः

• ācaret: should perform
• ācaret: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर्) (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• vrātya-yājakaḥ: a priest who officiates for a vrātya
• vrātya-yājakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrātya (प्रातिपदिक) + yājaka (प्रातिपदिक; √yaj यज् + ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘व्रात्यस्य याजकः’

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपि-निपात (particle: even/also)

• caran: practicing/performing
• caran: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर्) (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• veda-plāvī: a learned Veda-knower
• veda-plāvī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + plāvin (प्रातिपदिक; √plu प्लु/प्लव् + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘वेदे प्लावी’ (वेदपारग/वेदविद्)

• yavāśī-abdam: a year (abda) of eating barley
• yavāśī-abdam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yava (प्रातिपदिक) + āśin (प्रातिपदिक; √aś अश् + णिनि) + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘यवाशी (यवभोजी) अब्दम्’ = यवभोजनव्रतं वर्षपर्यन्तम्

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (त्यज्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); अर्थः ‘त्यक्त्वा’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• śaraṇa-āgatān: those who have sought refuge
• śaraṇa-āgatān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āgata (कृदन्त; √gam गम् + आ- उपसर्ग + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘शरणम् आगताः’ = शरणागताः

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual authority must be exercised with purity; Veda must not be distorted; refuge-seekers must not be abandoned; expiation repairs breaches.

Vedantic Theme: Śruti-prāmāṇya (authority of revelation) and satya; dharma as protector of the vulnerable (śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇa).

Application: If one has served improper rites or mishandled sacred knowledge, undertake repeated Kṛcchra penance; reform speech and conduct; uphold protection of those seeking refuge.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105 (series of prāyaścittas for professional/ritual faults)

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Vrātya
• Kṛcchra (penance)
• Śaraṇāgata (one who seeks refuge)

FAQs

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

This verse presents Kṛcchra as a concrete expiation for ritual/ethical lapses—specifically linked here to improper priestly association and mishandling of Vedic sanctity—showing that purification is possible through disciplined penance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuḍa Purāṇa context?

By emphasizing expiation and dharmic restraint, it implies that one’s post-death trajectory is shaped by adherence to sacred conduct; corrective penance helps remove karmic obstruction that would otherwise lead to suffering after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred texts and rituals with integrity, avoid degrading speech, and uphold the duty to protect and support those who sincerely seek help or refuge—paired with sincere corrective discipline when one errs.