The method in which the Lord washes away the troubles of his devotees is elaborated in this verse.

Śoṣaṇaṃ pāpa pankasya deepanaṃ jnāna tejasaḥ

Tāpa-praśamanaṃ vande smaṛtrgāmi sano’vatu

Every being on earth faces difficulties/ hardships. A rich man, wise man, strong man, a doctor, a lawyer – everyone has problems in life. Even a doctor faces health issues; a rich man also has money problems. Why do problems arise in the first place? They are the result of previous karma. What is previous karma? The actions of the previous day can be called previous karmas. If a person has eaten spoilt/ junk food on the previous day, he suffers the next day. This previous day is itself the previous birth (janma).

Sins are like a deep bog which encircle the human being and he continues to sink into it. Based on circumstances he undergoes different problems. This is why our elders state…dāridrya dośe na karoti pāpam, pāpāt daridraḥ punareva pāpaṃ. It means- ‘Due to some sinful deeds of a previous birth a person is born in absolute poverty. Due to poverty he commits further sins in that birth. Due to these additional sins, he is once again born in absolute poverty.’

It continues like a wheel. Thus it becomes impossible to exit from this bog, which keeps pulling the person down. The depth of this bog cannot even be estimated. First one lie (falsehood), to cover it up the person lies again; to cover the second lie he needs to lie again, thus it becomes an endless cycle. In order to safeguard against them, our elders reprimand us. ‘pāpa bheeti’ (fear of sin) is therefore a recommended treatment.

Only the Sadguru can save the person from this bog of sins.

Soṣaṇaṃ pāpa pankasya: He dries up the entire bog of sins.

Lord Datta, in order to pull his devotees, at first, sucks up their entire bog/ mire of sins. He dries it up completely. However the devotee cannot escape the punishment (siksha). The Lord prevents further sinking. To this extent he helps. For this total self-surrender (ātmārpaṇa) is necessary.

Deepanaṃ jnana tejasaḥ: He lights the lamp called knowledge in them.

Due to sins people undergo unexplainable hardships. At such troubled periods, they show least inclination towards charity (dānam), penance (tapas), vratas and pujas. “In what way will we benefit from these pujas? We have performed many pujas so far. But yet these problems have come to us” – they argue. Due to this non-performance of good deeds, they further slide into the bog. They add to their daridra (poverty). They look at pujas and other good deeds with a business attitude. “What return did we get for all that we had done thus far? We got nothing. Therefore what can we expect from this in future? No one can help us. Even these pujas won’t solve our problems”- they think.

In this way, the daridra shani, the Rahu-Ketu who are within, do not allow them to tread the path of dharma. They will be sinking into the bog. To add to this, such people insult God, Guru as well as the parents who have given them birth. “Why did my mother give birth to me? I am unfortunate to have been born in this unlucky lineage.”- they curse. They do not spare themselves too. “What a wasteful birth this is! It is better to die than to live in this manner. What has this world given me? Nothing. Therefore from today I will not wear even bottu (bindi). I will not bow in front of any God”. This way people lament and in frustration they act as if they have attained vairagya. It is their bad luck that is dragging them further down. They will be rough in their speech; their stomach will be full of hatred and jealousy when they come across people who seem to enjoy what they are deprived of. A sick man will be jealous when he sees someone enjoying sweets that he has been forbidden to eat. An old man will be jealous of the youth who are enjoying life. This is called daridra. Daridra is not lack of money. Lack of right discrimination is the real daridra (poverty).

At such difficult times, in fact, one should increase the time spent with God. He should increase his pujas and should visit temples more frequently. Why is Garuda Purana read when someone passes away? The place where a dead body is placed is a temple. Paramatma has just left that body. The divine atmosphere is created there. In order to create a healthy attitude amongst the near and dear ones, in order to prevent them from crying and abusing God, in order to ensure that they have an healthy attitude towards the deceased person, Garuda Purana is read. During time of grief, when we spend time with God, we forget our sorrows. Instead it is wrong to curse God at such times. “At least because of this, I have become closer to you, O Lord” – it is better to think in this manner.

In those who are dejected, disappointed and depressed and are dragged down under the weight of the problems, daiva jnana (knowledge about God) should be created. There is no use of asking them to perform vratas and pujas. Paramatma tattva should be taught to them and fear of sin should be instilled in them. Knowledge about God is itself great effulgence (maha tejas). It is an enormous heat. When this compassion called divine effulgence/ heat is radiated upon the person, the bog of sins will simply dry up. Lord Datta resorts to this method to help devotees. That is why it is said- deepanaṃ jnana tejasah.

Just as the present day laser operations remove the stones from the body without any external incision, Lord Datta lights the lamp called divine knowledge within the person who is drowned in these sins and through this He causes the bog to dry up. With this the problems come to an end. That is why at such times one should seek shelter under a Guru.

When the lamp of knowledge is lit and the sins washed away, automatically the tāpatrayas of the person get destroyed.

Tāpa praśamanaṃ: He drives away the three tāpās in those who seek shelter under him.

What are these tāpatrayas? There are three types of tāpās- ādhyātmika tāpā, ādhibhoutika tāpā, ādhidaivika tāpā.

Ādhyātmika tāpa: This word ‘ādhyātmika’ used here has nothing to do with spirituality (Vedanta). The word ‘atma’ in this context refers to gross body. The sufferings undergone by the body such as bodily illness etc. are classified as ‘ādhātmika tāpa’.

Ādhibhoutika tāpa: Sufferings caused due to natural calamities and due to other living beings. Excessive rain, typhoon, earthquakes and other natural calamities as well as the troubles due to scorpions, snakes, insects, worms, bacteria, food poisoning etc. are classified as ādhibhoutika tāpa.

Ādhidaivika tāpa: Those sufferings which come due to curse of parents, Gods and Gurus i.e. due to supernatural forces beyond human control are ādhidaivika tāpa.

Even cheating business partners, friends and suffering due to their curse can be classified under this.

Cheating is common in business and money matters. Business should never be entrusted to anyone; the owner should watch over the dealings carefully. Likewise, in money and property matters boasting is not recommended. Secrecy should be maintained in this matter. The moment another person hears about your bank balances, he presumes he has a right over it. Cheating begins here.

In those who seek shelter under Him, Lord Datta drives away these three tapas using both the methods mentioned in this verse. Hence He is tāpa prasamanam.

Vande: To this Lord we offer our obeisance.

Smaṛtrgāmi sano’vatu - May that Lord who responds instantly when called, protect us all!