Shloka 40

शरद्वर्णनं, योगोपमा, तथा गोवर्धन-यज्ञप्रवर्तनम्

Devanagari script

समर्चिते कृते होमे भोजितेषु द्विजातिषु शरत्पुष्पकृतापीडाः परिगच्छन्तु गोगणाः

Transliteration

samarcite kṛte home bhojiteṣu dvijātiṣu śaratpuṣpakṛtāpīḍāḥ parigacchantu gogaṇāḥ

Translation

When the worship is duly performed, the homa completed, and the dvija guests fed, then let the herds of cows be respectfully sent forth, adorned with garlands of autumn flowers.

Word by Word

• समर्चिते: when (it is) duly worshipped
• समर्चिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; लोके सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘when (it is) duly worshipped’

• कृते: when (it is) performed
• कृते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; लोके सप्तमी: ‘when (it is) done’

• होमे: in the oblation/rite
• होमे: Adhikarana (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; लोके सप्तमी (context for absolutes)

• भोजितेषु: when (they are) fed
• भोजितेषु: Adhikarana (Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भोजय् (धातु, णिच्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; लोके सप्तमी: ‘when (they are) fed’

• द्विजातिषु: among the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातिषु: Adhikarana (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (द्विजातयः = twice-born)

• शरत्पुष्पकृतापीडाः: wearing garlands/crowns made of autumn flowers
• शरत्पुष्पकृतापीडाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त) + आपीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (गोगणाः); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शरत्पुष्पैः कृताः आपीडाः येषां)

• परिगच्छन्तु: let them go around/circumambulate
• परिगच्छन्तु: Vidhi (Injunctive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गोगणाः: herds of cows
• गोगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गवां गणाः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, describing proper dharmic procedure)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To complete the Govardhana worship with proper rites—homa, feeding the twice-born, and auspicious release of the cows—thereby securing protection for Vraja.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Ritual completeness (homa + hospitality) and protection of cows as dharmic wealth

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion expresses itself through orderly worship, honoring the learned, and reverent care of life-sustaining beings like cows.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Make spiritual practice complete: pair prayer with generosity and compassionate stewardship toward animals and the environment.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord is pleased through śeṣa-sevā—service to His dependents (brāhmaṇas, guests, animals) as extensions of His lordship.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Dvija)
• Cows (Go)

FAQs

What is the significance of sending off cows adorned with autumn flowers in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the auspicious completion of worship and homa, expressing reverence and charitable merit—especially through honoring cows as sacred sustainers of yajña and prosperity.

How does Sage Parāśara structure the proper completion of a rite here?

He presents a clear sequence: worship is performed, the homa is completed, the twice-born guests are fed, and then the concluding auspicious act is done—sending forth the cows adorned, indicating orderly dharma.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana frames such dharmic rites as supports of cosmic order ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—as the source and sustainer of lawful conduct and auspiciousness.