Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

पयः काञ्चनवर्णायाः श्वेतवर्णं च गोमयम् / गोमूत्रं ताम्रवर्णाया नीलवर्णभवं घृतम्

Transliteration

payaḥ kāñcanavarṇāyāḥ śvetavarṇaṃ ca gomayam / gomūtraṃ tāmravarṇāyā nīlavarṇabhavaṃ ghṛtam

Translation

কাঞ্চনবৰ্ণ গাইৰ পৰা পয়ঃ গ্ৰহণ কৰিব; শ্বেতবৰ্ণ গাইৰ গোময়। তাম্ৰবৰ্ণ গাইৰ গোমূত্ৰ, আৰু নীলবৰ্ণ গাইৰ ঘৃত গ্ৰহণ কৰিব।

Word by Word

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• काञ्चनवर्णायाः: of the golden-colored (cow)
• काञ्चनवर्णायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषप्रायः (काञ्चन-वर्णा)

• श्वेतवर्णम्: white-colored
• श्वेतवर्णम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्वेतः वर्णः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गोः मयम्)

• गोमूत्रम्: cow-urine
• गोमूत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गोः मूत्रम्)

• ताम्रवर्णायाः: of the copper-colored (cow)
• ताम्रवर्णायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषप्रायः (ताम्र-वर्णा)

• नीलवर्णभवम्: arising from the blue-colored (cow)
• नीलवर्णभवम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + वर्ण + भव (√भू धातु; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नीलवर्णात् भवम्)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual substances are selected by prescribed correspondences; pañcagavya components are gathered with specific qualifiers.

Vedantic Theme: External śauca as an aid to inner śauca; symbolic order (ṛta) reflected in ritual taxonomy.

Application: If following pañcagavya rites, source materials ethically and hygienically; treat prescriptions as tradition-bound and consult competent ācārya for context.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral/household ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana pañcagavya and śuddhi passages (milk/curd/ghee/urine/dung); Garuda Purana prāyaścitta sections using go-dravya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Go (Cow)

FAQs

What is the importance of cow-derived substances in the Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns specific cow-products (milk, dung, urine, ghee) for ritual use, reflecting their role as traditional purifiers in śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related observances.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death-ritual practice?

It functions as a procedural detail: specifying the proper sourcing of purification materials used in rites connected with post-death duties and dharmic observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For those following traditional rites, it emphasizes careful, rule-based preparation of ritual materials; ethically, it highlights discipline and reverence in religious practice.