Shloka 7

Purification of Substances (Dravya-Śuddhi) and Rules of Ācamana

Devanagari script

शुचि गोतृप्तिदं तोयं प्रकृतिस्थं महीगतम् / तथा मांसं श्वचाण्डालक्रव्यादादिनिपातितम्

Transliteration

śuci gotṛptidaṃ toyaṃ prakṛtisthaṃ mahīgatam / tathā māṃsaṃ śvacāṇḍālakravyādādinipātitam

Translation

Even pure water that quenches a cow’s thirst, once it has, in its natural course, reached the ground, is to be regarded as unfit; likewise, meat that has fallen through the agency of dogs, Caṇḍālas, carrion-eaters, and the like is deemed impure and unsuitable.

Word by Word

• śuci: pure
• śuci: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• gotṛptidam: giving satisfaction to cows
• gotṛptidam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛpti (प्रातिपदिक) + da (√dā, धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (instrumental/associative determinative) + कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (द-प्रत्यय, ‘द’ = giving) विशेषण

• toyam: water
• toyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• prakṛtistham: remaining in its natural state
• prakṛtistham: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (√sthā, धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (locative determinative: ‘in natural state’) + कृत् (स्थ-प्रत्यय/कृदन्त) विशेषण

• mahīgatam: that has reached the ground/earth
• mahīgatam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (√gam, धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्वितीया/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (determinative: ‘gone to/into the earth’) + भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• tathā: likewise; also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘likewise/also’)

• māṃsam: meat
• māṃsam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• śva: dog
• śva: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग); ‘कुक्कुर’ (dog)

• cāṇḍāla: outcaste (caṇḍāla)
• cāṇḍāla: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāṇḍāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• kravyāda: flesh-eater
• kravyāda: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kravyāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग); ‘मांसभक्षी’

• ādi: and others; etc.
• ādi: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘आदि’ = ‘and the like’ (etc.)

• nipātitam: dropped/defiled by falling (from)
• nipātitam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni + √pat (धातु) → nipātita (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative passive sense): ‘caused to fall/defiled by falling’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (purity) depends not only on intrinsic nature but also on contact, locus, and the agency through which a substance is obtained.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāropa-apavāda style discernment between appearance and reality applied to dharmic conduct: what seems pure may be functionally impure due to saṅga (contact).

Application: Avoid using water/meat that has fallen to the ground or been handled/caused by impure beings; maintain clear rules for food and water sourcing in ritual and daily life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ground/earth-surface (mahi-gata)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.97.8-10 (ācāmana and purity rules continuing); Garuda Purana śauca/ācāra sections around this adhyāya

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of purity rules in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that even inherently “pure” items like water can become unsuitable when they fall to the ground or are associated with impure agents, emphasizing vigilance in ritual and dietary purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stressing dharmic conduct and purity in daily actions, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that one’s habits and observances shape karmic outcomes that affect the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and discernment about what you consume—avoid contaminated food/water and follow ethical hygiene practices, especially during worship and rites.