Shloka 9

Cāturmāsya Observances—Commencement, Austerities, and Fruits

Devanagari script

सक्तुयावकभिक्षाशी पयोदधिघृताशनः / गोमूत्रयावकाहारः पञ्चगव्यकृताशनः / शाकमलफलाद्याशी रसवर्जो च विष्णुभाक्

Transliteration

saktuyāvakabhikṣāśī payodadhighṛtāśanaḥ / gomūtrayāvakāhāraḥ pañcagavyakṛtāśanaḥ / śākamalaphalādyāśī rasavarjo ca viṣṇubhāk

Translation

Living on alms of barley and parched flour, eating only milk, curd, and ghee; taking barley mixed with cow’s urine as food; subsisting on preparations of the five products of the cow; eating vegetables, roots, and fruits, and abstaining from rich tastes—such a person becomes a recipient of Lord Viṣṇu’s grace.

Word by Word

• सक्तु: parched flour
• सक्तु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• यावक: barley
• यावक: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• भिक्षा: alms
• भिक्षा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• आशी: one who eats (only) saktu, barley, and alms-food
• आशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √अश् (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: सक्तु-यावक-भिक्षा-आशी (‘एतानि अश्नाति’)

• पयस्: milk
• पयस्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• दधि: curd
• दधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• घृत: ghee
• घृत: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• आशनः: one whose food is milk, curd, and ghee
• आशनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशन (प्रातिपदिक; √अश् (धातु) + ल्युट्/अन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: पयस्-दधि-घृत-आशनः (‘एतानि अश्नाति’)

• गोमूत्र: cow’s urine
• गोमूत्र: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग); समासः: गो-मूत्र (‘गवां मूत्रम्’)

• यावक: barley
• यावक: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• आहारः: one whose diet is cow’s urine and barley
• आहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक; आ + √हृ (धातु) + घञ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: गोमूत्र-यावक-आहारः (‘गोमूत्रयावकौ आहारः यस्य’)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषणम् (समासाङ्ग)

• गव्य: cow-products
• गव्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गव्य (प्रातिपदिक; गो + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग; ‘cow-products’)

• कृत: made of pañcagavya
• कृत: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासाङ्ग) क्तान्त कृदन्त; समासः: पञ्च-गव्य-कृत-आशनः (‘पञ्चगव्येन कृतम्’)

• आशनः: one whose food is prepared from pañcagavya
• आशनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: पञ्चगव्य-कृत-आशनः (‘पञ्चगव्यकृतं आशनं यस्य’)

• शाक: vegetables
• शाक: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• मल: roots/tubers (lit. ‘mūla’; here ‘mala’ likely for ‘mūla’ in some recensions)
• मल: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• फल: fruits
• फल: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/आद्यार्थक-अव्यय (etc.) (समासाङ्ग)

• आशी: one who eats vegetables, roots/tubers, fruits, etc.
• आशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √अश् (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: शाक-मल-फल-आदि-आशी (‘एतानि अश्नाति’)

• रस: tastes/juices (savory items)
• रस: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• वर्जः: one who avoids tasty/seasoned foods
• वर्जः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज (प्रातिपदिक; √वृज्/√वर्ज् (धातु) + घञ्/अ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: रस-वर्जः (‘रसान् वर्जयति’)

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

• विष्णुभाक्: devoted to Vishnu / attainer of Vishnu
• विष्णुभाक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + √भज् (धातु) → भाक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: विष्णु-भाक्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra) (typical dialogue frame; verify with your edition)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A range of regulated diets (saktu/yāvaka-bhikṣā, dairy-only, gomūtra-yāvaka, pañcagavya, vegetables-roots-fruits, rasa-varjana) are austerities that make one ‘Viṣṇu-bhāk’ (recipient of Viṣṇu’s grace).

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and sāttvika āhāra as supports for bhakti and mental clarity; reducing rajas/tamas through food discipline.

Application: Adopt ethical, sattvic dietary restraint appropriate to capacity; practice periodic ‘rasa-varjana’ (avoiding rich/overstimulating foods); if using traditional cow-product regimens, follow cultural, hygienic, and medical prudence and local dharma norms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata sections listing āhāra-niyamas and pañcagavya usage in expiation; Garuda Purana: statements that Viṣṇu-prasāda follows from śauca and niyama

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of panchagavya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists pañcagavya-based intake as a purifying discipline; it is presented as a regulated, sattvic austerity that supports inner cleansing and devotion, making one fit for Viṣṇu’s grace.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing restraint, purity, and disciplined living, the verse points to how ethical and sattvic conduct strengthens spiritual merit (puṇya) and devotion—foundational supports for a favorable post-death trajectory in Garuda Purana teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt moderation and simplicity in diet, reduce indulgence in “rich tastes,” and align food choices with ethical and devotional intent; traditional observances like vrata should be followed only with proper guidance and suitability.