Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

दत्त्वा चान्नं च विदुषे ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति / अश्वमेधावभृथके स्नात्वा वा मुच्यते द्विजः

Transliteration

dattvā cānnaṃ ca viduṣe brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati / aśvamedhāvabhṛthake snātvā vā mucyate dvijaḥ

Translation

以食物布施于博学之士，便能除去杀婆罗门之罪；或二次生者在马祭（Aśvamedha）终末的沐浴礼（avabhṛtha）中沐浴，亦得解脱此罪。

Word by Word

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having given’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• viduṣe: to a learned man
• viduṣe: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; ‘विद्वान्’ (learned person)

• brahmahatyām: Brahmin-murder (sin)
• brahmahatyām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmahatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇaḥ hatyā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vyapohati: removes; dispels
• vyapohati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + apa + uh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• aśvamedha-avabhṛthake: at the concluding bath of the Aśvamedha
• aśvamedha-avabhṛthake: Adhikarana (Location/Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvamedha + avabhṛtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (aśvamedhasya avabhṛthaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (occasion)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having bathed’

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

• mucyate: is freed; is released
• mucyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• dvijaḥ: the twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa-kṣaya through dāna (feeding the learned) and śrauta-associated tīrtha-snāna; ritual and ethical giving as purifiers.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purification via sattvic acts; honoring vidyā and yajña as supports for inner clarity (though not replacing ultimate jñāna/bhakti).

Application: Practice generous, respectful support of learning and dharmic institutions; use ritual as a commitment device for ethical transformation, not as a license to repeat harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/ritual confluence

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dāna-mahātmyas and tīrtha-snāna praises in dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Brahmahatya
• Ashvamedha
• Avabhritha
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta (atonement) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that even grave sins are addressed through prescribed expiations—especially dāna (charity) to the learned and ritual purification—emphasizing moral repair and dharmic restoration.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to sin?

By stating that brahmahatyā can be ‘removed’ through specific expiations, the verse implies that karmic burdens affecting the soul’s post-death fate can be lightened through dharmic acts performed while living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice anna-dāna (offering food) and support genuine learning and teaching; more broadly, adopt sincere repentance, ethical reform, and disciplined religious practice as a way to counter harmful actions.