Shloka 112

Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow

Go-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

सदा गोमयमूत्राभ्यां विघसैश्च विवर्जितम् । न मलं निक्षिपेद्गोष्ठे सर्वदेवनिकेतने

Transliteration

sadā gomayamūtrābhyāṃ vighasaiśca vivarjitam | na malaṃ nikṣipedgoṣṭhe sarvadevaniketane

Translation

One should always keep the cowshed—regarded as the abode of all the gods—free from cow-dung, cow-urine, and leftover scraps; one should not throw filth into the cowshed.

Word by Word

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• gomaya-mūtrābhyām: with cow-dung and urine
• gomaya-mūtrābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomaya (प्रातिपदिक) + mūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) (gomayaṃ ca mūtraṃ ca), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vighasaiḥ: with leftovers/impurities (vighasa)
• vighasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vighasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• vivarjitam: kept free from; devoid of
• vivarjitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-varjita (प्रातिपदिक; from varj धातु, past passive participle)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying goṣṭhe (intended ‘goṣṭham’/place)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• malam: filth; dirt
• malam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nikṣipet: should place/throw
• nikṣipet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• goṣṭhe: in the cowshed
• goṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: goṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-deva-niketane: in the abode of all gods
• sarva-deva-niketane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + niketana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (sarveṣāṃ devānāṃ niketanam), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to goṣṭhe

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative injunction in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: gomayamūtrābhyāṃ → gomaya-mūtrābhyām; vighasaiśca → vighasaiḥ ca; nikṣipedgoṣṭhe → nikṣipet goṣṭhe; sarvadevaniketane → sarva-deva-niketane.

Characters & Entities

• Sarva-deva (all gods)

FAQs

Why is the cowshed called the abode of all the gods in this verse?

The verse treats the cowshed (goṣṭha) as sacred because service to and care of cows is framed as a religious act; hence it is described as a place associated with all deities (sarva-deva-niketana).

What practical instruction does this shloka give?

It instructs maintaining cleanliness and not dumping filth in the cowshed, emphasizing purity and respectful upkeep of spaces connected with religious merit.

What is the ethical lesson conveyed here?

Reverence is shown through conduct: sacredness is upheld by disciplined hygiene, restraint, and responsible care for living beings and their dwellings.