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Shloka 39

Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda

Kārttikeya

नि्तैश्व यवैगोभिमासं प्रश्नितयावक: । ब्रह्महत्यासमं पाप॑ सर्वमेतेन शुध्यते,गौओंके गोबरसे निकाले हुए जौकी लप्सीका एक मासतक भक्षण करे। इससे मनुष्य ब्रह्महत्या-जैसे पापसे भी छुटकारा पा जाता है

nityaiś ca yavago-bhimāsaṁ praśnitya-yāvakaḥ | brahmahatyā-samaṁ pāpaṁ sarvam etena śudhyate ||

يقول فياسا: بعزمٍ منضبط، ينبغي للمرء أن يعيش شهرًا كاملًا على عصيدةٍ من الشعير تُعدّ بمنتجاتٍ مشتقّة من البقر. وبالقيام بهذه المراعاة (vrata) يتطهّر الإنسان حتى من خطايا فادحة كخطيئة قتل البراهمن (brahmahatyā). ويعرض البيت طهارةً منسوبةً إلى ما يتصل بالبقر، ونظامًا غذائيًا مضبوطًا بوصفه وسيلةً لتطهير الذنب وإعادة المرء إلى حياةٍ قائمة على الدارما.

नित्यैःdaily, regularly (by regular means)
नित्यैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootनित्य
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
यवbarley
यव:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootयव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
गोभिःwith cows / by means of cows
गोभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगो
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
मासम्for a month
मासम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमास
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्राश्नीयात्should eat/consume
प्राश्नीयात्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + अश्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
यावकःbarley-gruel (yāvaka)
यावकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयावक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ब्रह्महत्याBrahmin-slaying (the sin of brahmahatyā)
ब्रह्महत्या:
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्महत्या
FormFeminine, Instrumental (in compound relation), Singular
समम्equal to
समम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पापम्sin
पापम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपाप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सर्वम्all (of it)
सर्वम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
एतेनby this (means)
एतेन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
शुध्यतेis purified
शुध्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootशुध्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
B
barley (yava)
B
barley-gruel (yāvaka)
C
cow-products (implied by go-)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that disciplined observance—specifically a month-long vow of subsisting on a simple barley preparation associated with cow-products—functions as a powerful prāyaścitta (expiation), capable of purifying even extremely grave sins. Ethical emphasis is on restraint, ritual purity, and re-entry into dharmic conduct through regulated living.

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Vyāsa is prescribing an expiatory regimen. He outlines a concrete practice (a month-long restricted diet) and states its purificatory result, situating it among teachings on sin, atonement, and restoration of moral order.