Shloka 66

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

घोघ्रातं शकुनोच्छिष्टं पादस्पृष्ट च कामतः / शूद्रेषु दासगोपालकुलमित्रार्धसीरिणः

Transliteration

ghoghrātaṃ śakunocchiṣṭaṃ pādaspṛṣṭa ca kāmataḥ / śūdreṣu dāsagopālakulamitrārdhasīriṇaḥ

Translation

Food that has been smelled and thus defiled, food left over by birds, and food deliberately touched by the foot—those who eat such things are reckoned among the lowest, like servants, cowherds, clan-dependents, friends who live on others, and half-labourers.

Word by Word

• घोघ्रातम्: sniffed/smelled
• घोघ्रातम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घ्रात (घ्रा धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'smelled/sniffed' (context: by cow etc.)

• शकुन: of a bird
• शकुन: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'of a bird'

• उच्छिष्टम्: leftover/defiled
• उच्छिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'leftover/defiled'

• शकुनोच्छिष्टम्: bird-pecked/leftover by birds
• शकुनोच्छिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शकुन + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शकुनस्य उच्छिष्टम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'leftover of a bird'

• पाद: of the foot
• पाद: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); 'of the foot'

• स्पृष्टम्: touched
• स्पृष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) → स्पृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'touched'

• पादस्पृष्टम्: touched by the foot
• पादस्पृष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद + स्पृष्ट (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादेन/पादस्य स्पृष्टम्—अर्थतः पादेन स्पृष्टम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• कामतः: intentionally
• कामतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त), अर्थे 'इच्छया/जानबूझकर' (adverb)

• शूद्रेषु: among Śūdras
• शूद्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; 'among Śūdras'

• दास: servant
• दास: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद); 'servant/slave'

• गोपाल: cowherd
• गोपाल: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद); 'cowherd'

• कुल: family
• कुल: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद); 'family'

• मित्र: friend
• मित्र: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद); 'friend'

• अर्ध: half
• अर्ध: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद); 'half'

• सीरिन्: ploughman
• सीरिन्: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक; 'ploughman/one who ploughs'

• दासगोपालकुलमित्रार्धसीरिणः: servants, cowherds, family-friends, and half-ploughmen
• दासगोपालकुलमित्रार्धसीरिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास + गोपाल + कुल + मित्र + अर्ध + सीरिन् (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'servants, cowherds, family-friends, half-ploughmen' (list of groups)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deliberate consumption of defiled food degrades one’s dharmic standing; śauca is both ethical and ritual.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-doṣa: tamas/rajas increase through careless or willful impurity; discipline supports sattva.

Application: Do not eat food that has been smelled/defiled, left by birds, or touched by the foot; cultivate mindful handling and serving practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: eating place/household setting implied

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (continuation of prohibited/defiled foods and their social-ethical consequences)

FAQs

What is the importance of food purity (annashuddhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that deliberately consuming defiled food (smelled, bird-leftover, or foot-touched) is a dharmic fault and is associated with degrading outcomes and low social/ethical condition.

How does this verse explain karmic decline in daily life?

By linking intentional acceptance of impurity with a fall in status and dignity, the verse frames everyday choices—especially about food—as contributors to one’s moral and karmic trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and respect for food: avoid knowingly consuming contaminated leftovers, prevent food from being stepped on or mishandled, and treat eating as a disciplined, mindful practice.