Shloka 26
Rules of Edible and Inedible Foods
कृमिदुष्टं भावदुष्टं मृत्संसर्गं च वर्जयेत् । कृमिकीटावपन्नं च सुहृत्क्लेदं च नित्यशः
kṛmiduṣṭaṃ bhāvaduṣṭaṃ mṛtsaṃsargaṃ ca varjayet | kṛmikīṭāvapannaṃ ca suhṛtkledaṃ ca nityaśaḥ
Man soll meiden, was von Würmern verdorben ist, was in seinem Zustand verunreinigt ist und was mit Erde (Unreinheit) in Berührung kam. Ebenso soll man stets meiden, was von Würmern und Insekten befallen ist und was durch Feuchtigkeit durchnässt wurde.
Unspecified (didactic injunction within the Svargakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Concept: Avoiding contaminated food is both physical hygiene and ritual ethics; purity of intake supports purity of mind and worship.
Application: Inspect food for spoilage, infestation, dampness, and contamination; store offerings properly; keep cooking spaces dry and clean—especially on vrata days.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A clean granary room: a devotee holds a lamp close to grains, spotting tiny worms and damp clumps, then discards them into a separate pit outside the sacred boundary. Fresh, dry grains are placed into a sanctified brass container near a small altar, emphasizing vigilance and purity.","primary_figures":["a devotee inspecting grains","a helper/attendant"],"setting":"Storage room adjoining a shrine; woven baskets, clay bins, neem leaves for storage, a small altar shelf with incense.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm amber","clay brown","clean white","brass gold","sage green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: devotee with a small lamp inspecting grains, discarding worm-infested and damp portions, placing pure grains into a gold-highlighted brass vessel near a Viṣṇu altar; gold leaf on vessels and halo motifs, rich reds/greens, ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate domestic scene with delicate brushwork—grain baskets, a lamp, careful hands separating spoiled from pure; cool earthy palette, refined faces, gentle architectural framing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—clear symbolic depiction of ‘pure’ vs ‘impure’ heaps, devotee’s decisive gesture of avoidance; natural pigments, temple-wall composition, rhythmic patterns on baskets and cloth.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional household purity scene framed by lotus and floral borders; central pure grain vessel before a small Viṣṇu symbol, with worms/dampness shown outside the sanctified circle; deep blues and gold accents, intricate ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["rustle of grain","soft bell","morning birds","incense crackle","brief silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No mandatory external sandhi beyond standard compound formation; कृमिकीटावपन्नम् is a compound form.
FAQs
It teaches shauca (cleanliness) through avoidance of items that are contaminated—by worms/insects, dampness, spoilage, or contact with soil—implying careful discernment in daily conduct (especially regarding consumables and ritual suitability).
These are classical markers of impurity and decay: infestation signals spoilage; earth-contact can indicate defilement; moisture accelerates contamination. The verse codifies observable signs for deciding what should be rejected.
It promotes vigilance and restraint—training one to reject what is compromised, unwholesome, or unfit—supporting a broader dharmic ideal of purity in action and discernment in habits.