Shloka 79
प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
पिण्डानुत्सृज्य गोग्रासं दद्यान्नोचेज्जले क्षिपेत् । पुण्याहवाचनं त्वां भुंजीत स्वजनैस्सह
piṇḍānutsṛjya gogrāsaṃ dadyānnocejjale kṣipet | puṇyāhavācanaṃ tvāṃ bhuṃjīta svajanaissaha
After offering the piṇḍas (rice-balls), one should give a mouthful of food to a cow; if that cannot be done, one should cast it into water. Then, after the auspicious sanctifying rite of puṇyāha-vācana, he should partake of the meal together with his own people.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: Feeding a cow after piṇḍa-offering extends the rite’s compassion outward; in dharmic-Śaiva framing it stabilizes merit and supports social-cosmic order (sthiti), aiding the aspirant’s purification.
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that ritual offerings must culminate in compassion and purity: charity (feeding a cow), symbolic offering to the waters when unable, and then sanctified nourishment—aligning household dharma with inner purification under Shiva’s order (śiva-ājñā).
In Saguna Shiva worship, external rites (offerings, purity, and regulated conduct) support inner devotion. This verse frames post-ritual conduct—sanctification and disciplined eating—as part of maintaining the sacred field created by Shiva-pūjā.
Perform piṇḍa-offering, then give a gogrāsa (cow-feeding) as a dharmic adjunct; if impossible, offer to water; complete puṇyāha-vācana (auspicious purification) before eating—treating the meal as prasāda with mindful restraint.