Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

शुद्धे त्रिषवणस्नातस्त्रिरात्रोपोषितो द्विजः / सेतुबन्धे नरः स्नात्वा मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

Transliteration

śuddhe triṣavaṇasnātastrirātropoṣito dvijaḥ / setubandhe naraḥ snātvā mucyate brahmahatyayā

Translation

二生者若以清净之身，于三次交时（黎明、正午、黄昏）沐浴，并守三夜斋戒；只要在塞图班达沐浴，便能解脱婆罗门杀罪（brahma-hatyā）。

Word by Word

• शुद्धे: in a purified (state/place)
• शुद्धे: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (locative singular); ‘शुद्ध’ = purified/clean

• त्रिषवणस्नातः: having bathed at the three daily rites
• त्रिषवणस्नातः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + सवण + स्नात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular); समासः—त्रिषवणस्नात = त्रिषु सवणेषु स्नातः (bathed at the three daily times)

• त्रिरात्रोपोषितः: having fasted for three nights
• त्रिरात्रोपोषितः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + रात्रि + उपोषित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—त्रिरात्रोपोषित = त्रिरात्रं उपोषितः (fasted for three nights)

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• सेतुबन्धे: at Setubandha (the sacred bridge place)
• सेतुबन्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सेतुबन्ध = सेतोः बन्धः (the bridge-causeway; Setubandha)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having bathed’

• मुच्यते: is released; becomes free
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (present, 3rd person singular, middle/passive sense)

• ब्रह्महत्यया: from the sin of Brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्महत्यया: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/source of release/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्यā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (feminine, instrumental singular); समासः—ब्रह्महत्यā = ब्राह्मणस्य हत्या (Brahmin-slaying)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta: disciplined bodily and mental purification, combined with tīrtha-snāna, can attenuate/neutralize heavy pāpa and restore dharmic standing.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi as preparation for jñāna/bhakti; the mind becomes fit (adhikāra) through tapas and niyama.

Application: Adopt structured repentance: fasting/abstinence, daily purification practices, and pilgrimage/service as part of ethical repair—paired with sincere resolve not to repeat harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (sea-shore/bridge-sacred zone)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prāyaścitta and tīrtha-snāna passages for mahāpātakas (general internal thematic linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Setubandha
• dvija
• brahmahatyā

FAQs

What is the importance of Setubandha (Rameshwaram/Setu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Setubandha as a powerful tīrtha where ritual bathing, supported by purity and disciplined fasting, functions as prāyaścitta (atonement) even for grave sins.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in terms of karma and purification?

It links karmic burden (mahāpātaka like brahma-hatyā) with remedial dharma—purity, repeated sandhyā-bathing, and fasting—showing that intentional purification practices can lessen obstructive karma that binds the jīva.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt disciplined purification: regular sandhyā practice, periodic fasting with ethical restraint, and sincere pilgrimage/holy bathing as a supplement to repentance, restitution, and non-harming conduct.