Shloka 42

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

गोमयस्य प्रमाणं तु तेनाङ्गं लेपयेत्ततः / प्रक्षाल्याचम्य विधिवत्ततः स्नायात्समाहितः

Transliteration

gomayasya pramāṇaṃ tu tenāṅgaṃ lepayettataḥ / prakṣālyācamya vidhivattataḥ snāyātsamāhitaḥ

Translation

Hat man das rechte Maß an Kuhdung genommen, so bestreiche man damit den Körper; danach wasche man es ab, vollziehe das Ācamana nach Vorschrift und bade mit gesammeltem, wachem Geist.

Word by Word

• गोमयस्य: of cow-dung
• गोमयस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रमाणम्: the measure/quantity
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘मात्रा/परिमाणम्’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विरोध/विशेषार्थ particle)

• तेन: with that/by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अङ्गम्: the body/limbs
• अङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• लेपयेत्: should smear/apply
• लेपयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘लेपयति’

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/अनन्तर adverb): ‘तदनन्तरम्’

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रक्षाल्य (कृदन्त; √क्षल् (धातु) + प्र)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘प्रक्षालयित्वा’

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आचम्य (कृदन्त; √चम् (धातु) + आ)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘आचम्य’ (having sipped water ritually)

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण): ‘विधिना यथावत्’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/अनन्तर)

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समाहितः: composed/attentive
• समाहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित (कृदन्त; √धा (धातु) + सम्+आ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण: ‘एकाग्रचित्तः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gomaya as purifier; rule-bound sequence: lepa → washing → ācamana → snāna with samāhita-citta.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-saṃskāra: external order supports internal collectedness (samādhāna) for worship.

Application: If following traditional practice, use prescribed quantity, avoid excess; complete washing and ācamana properly; cultivate focused attention during bathing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.41 (prior washing measures); Garuda Purana 1.50.43-45 (mantra-consecration, Viṣṇu-smaraṇa, ācamana mantra)

FAQs

What is the importance of gomaya (cow-dung) purification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents gomaya-lepana followed by washing, ācamana, and bathing as a prescribed sequence for ritual purification, emphasizing both physical cleansing and sacred observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it teaches discipline and purity (ācāra) as supportive dharmic conduct, which the Garuda Purana treats as foundational for auspicious outcomes and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a structured approach to cleanliness before worship or rites—cleanse, perform a brief centering act (like ācamana or mindful sipping/prayer), and bathe or wash appropriately with focused attention.