Shloka 42

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

गवां रजो धान्यरजः पुत्रस्याङ्गभवं रजः / एतद्रजो महाशस्तं महापातकनाशनम्

Transliteration

gavāṃ rajo dhānyarajaḥ putrasyāṅgabhavaṃ rajaḥ / etadrajo mahāśastaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam

Translation

Der Staub von Kühen, der Staub von Getreide und der Staub, der vom Körper eines Sohnes entsteht—dieser Staub wird als höchst wirksam verkündet, als Vernichter selbst der größten Sünden.

Word by Word

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• रजः: dust
• रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धान्य-रजः: grain-dust
• धान्य-रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धान्यस्य रजः)

• पुत्रस्य: of a son
• पुत्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अङ्ग-भवम्: born from the body (bodily)
• अङ्ग-भवम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (अङ्गात्/अङ्गस्य भवम्) ‘born from the body’; विशेषण (of rajas)

• रजः: dust
• रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एतत्-रजः: this dust
• एतत्-रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (एतत् रजः)

• महा-शस्तम्: highly praised, very commendable
• महा-शस्तम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + शस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शंस्/शस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

• महा-पातक-नाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महा-पातक-नाशनम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महापातकस्य नाशनम्); विधेय-विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain contacts/substances are held to have pāpa-kṣaya (sin-diminishing) potency; purity and merit can be supported through sanctioned auspicious media.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through śuddhi and sattvic supports; external purifiers as aids (upāya) within pravṛtti-dharma.

Application: Use culturally sanctioned purificatory practices (e.g., cow-associated purity rites) and cultivate reverence for food sources; interpret ‘dust’ as symbolic of humble, grounded purity and familial blessings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cowshed/fields/household courtyard

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.43 (contrast: dust that causes demerit); Garuda Purana sections praising go-sevā and purity (general thematic)

FAQs

What is the importance of purificatory dust (rajaḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse praises specific forms of “dust” (from cows, grains, and a son’s body) as highly purifying substances used in expiation and ritual cleansing, even for grave sins.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: by emphasizing purification and expiation (prāyaścitta), it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that one’s karmic burdens affect post-death outcomes, and that prescribed rites help remove impediments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ritual and ethical purity: honor traditional cleansing disciplines, cultivate responsibility toward family and livelihood (food/grain), and prioritize sincere atonement and corrective conduct when wrongdoing occurs.