Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68
Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites
ताम्रायाश्च पयो ग्राह्यं श्वेतायाश्च दधि स्मृतम् । कपिलाया घृतं ग्राह्यं महापातकनाशनम् ॥ ६८ ॥
tāmrāyāśca payo grāhyaṃ śvetāyāśca dadhi smṛtam | kapilāyā ghṛtaṃ grāhyaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam || 68 ||
From the reddish (tāmra) cow one should take milk; from the white cow, curd (dadhi) is prescribed. From the tawny Kapilā cow one should take ghee (ghṛta)—a destroyer of great sins (mahāpātakas).
Sūta (narrating the teaching as received in the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It links specific cow-derived substances (milk, curd, ghee) with śuddhi (purification) and prāyaścitta, emphasizing that properly prescribed ritual substances—especially Kapilā-ghee—are held to mitigate even major sins (mahāpātakas) when used within dhārmic procedure.
While primarily ritual, it supports bhakti indirectly: purity disciplines and expiations are presented as safeguards that steady a devotee’s life, making worship and vows more consistent and sattvic—conditions traditionally considered supportive for Viṣṇu-bhakti.
It highlights kalpa/ritual procedure (as reflected in dharma-śāstra style prescriptions): which substance is ‘grāhya’ (acceptable) for a given rite and its intended purificatory result.