Shloka 60

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

तैलादिघृतमाध्वीकं पण्यद्रव्यं द्रवस्तथा / एकभक्तं क्रमान्नक्तं एकैकाहमयाचितम् / उपवासः पादकृच्छ्रं कृच्छार्धद्विगुणं हि यत्

tailādighṛtamādhvīkaṃ paṇyadravyaṃ dravastathā / ekabhaktaṃ kramānnaktaṃ ekaikāhamayācitam / upavāsaḥ pādakṛcchraṃ kṛcchārdhadviguṇaṃ hi yat

油等之物——酥油与蜂蜜——以及可交易之物与诸般液体(依戒律所定之饮食而用时),皆摄入忏悔之行。日食一餐(ekabhakta)、依次仅于夜间进食(krama-nakta)、不求而度一日一日(ayācita),皆为制欲之修持。全然断食(upavāsa)被说为“苦行 Kṛcchra”的四分之一;而半个 Kṛcchra 则被视为该量的两倍。

tailādi-ghṛta-mādhvīkamoil etc., ghee, and honey-wine (mādhvīka)
tailādi-ghṛta-mādhvīkam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottaila + ādi + ghṛta + mādhvīka (प्रातिपदिकानि)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—‘तैलादि’ (तैलम् आदि यस्य/तैल-आदि = समाहार), ततः घृत-माध्वीक (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)
paṇyadravyammerchandise/marketable goods
paṇyadravyam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpaṇya + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—पण्यं द्रव्यम् (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष)
dravaḥliquid/flowing substance
dravaḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdrava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
tathālikewise/also
tathā:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
Formप्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘likewise/also’)
ekabhaktamsingle meal (once-a-day eating)
ekabhaktam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rooteka + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—एकं भक्तम् (कर्मधारय)
kramān-naktamnight-meal in due order/sequence
kramān-naktam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkrama + naktam (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—क्रमेण नक्तम् (अव्ययीभाव: ‘in sequence at night’)
ekaikāhamday by day / each single day
ekaikāham:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteka + eka + aha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: ‘each day’)
ayācitamunasked/unsolicited (food)
ayācitam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roota + yācita (कृदन्त; √yāc ‘याच्’)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ (not begged)
upavāsaḥfasting
upavāsaḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootupavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
pādakṛcchrama quarter-kṛcchra (a reduced penance)
pādakṛcchram:
Visheshya (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य)
TypeNoun
Rootpāda + kṛcchra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—पादेन तुल्यं/पादमात्रं कृच्छ्रम् (तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)
kṛcchārdhadviguṇamtwice of half a kṛcchra
kṛcchārdhadviguṇam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṛcchra + ardha + dviguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कृच्छ्रस्य अर्धं (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + द्विगुणम् (द्विगुण-विशेषण)
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)
yatwhich/that
yat:
Sambandha (Relative connector)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative)

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Concept: Prāyaścitta is operationalized through graded dietary restraints (ekabhakta, krama-nakta, ayācita) and quantified fasting within kṛcchra measures.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi leading to antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi; tapas as a means to reduce rajas/tamas and stabilize sattva for higher pursuit.

Application: Adopt structured restraint (meal timing, simplicity, non-demanding intake) as corrective discipline after ethical lapses; keep it measured and time-bound.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Type: hermitage/household observance space

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222.61-62 (Prājāpatya, Kṛcchra, Mahā-sāntapana, Taptakṛcchra)

V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse treats fasting and regulated eating as formal measures of expiation (prāyaścitta), quantifying upavāsa as a defined fraction of the Kṛcchra penance to discipline desire and reduce karmic stain.

By prescribing prāyaścitta through restraint, it implies that ethical purification in life lessens the burdens that follow the jīva after death, aligning conduct with dharma before encountering post-mortem judgment themes elsewhere in the text.

Adopt measured self-discipline—such as occasional fasting, simplified meals, and avoiding dependence on solicitation—paired with ethical living, as a way to cultivate restraint and accountability.