Shloka 26

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

गवाघ्रातानि कांस्यानि शूद्रोच्छिष्टानि यानि च / काकश्वापहतान्येव शुध्यन्ति दश भस्मना

Transliteration

gavāghrātāni kāṃsyāni śūdrocchiṣṭāni yāni ca / kākaśvāpahatānyeva śudhyanti daśa bhasmanā

Translation

പശു മൂക്കിയ കാംസ്യപാത്രങ്ങൾ, ശൂദ്രന്റെ ഉച്ഛിഷ്ടം മൂലം ദൂഷിതമായവ, കൂടാതെ കാക്കയോ നായയോ സ്പർശിച്ചതോ എടുത്തുകൊണ്ടുപോയതോ ആയവ—ഇവയെല്ലാം പത്ത് പ്രാവശ്യം ഭസ്മം പുരട്ടിയാൽ ശുദ്ധമാകും.

Word by Word

• गवा: by a cow
• गवा: Karaṇa (Instrument/agent in participial construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन (विशेष-रूप: गो → गवा)

• आघ्रातानि: smelled/sniffed
• आघ्रातानि: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + घ्रा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कांस्यानि: bronze vessels
• कांस्यानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कांस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन

• शूद्र: of a Śūdra
• शूद्र: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• उच्छिष्टानि: defiled by leftovers
• उच्छिष्टानि: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + शिष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; 'leftover/defiled'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• यानि: which (things)
• यानि: Anuvṛtti/Viṣaya (Correlative—"which")
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• काक: of a crow
• काक: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• श्व: of a dog
• श्व: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग; श्वन्-प्रातिपदिक)

• अपहतानि: carried off; taken away
• अपहतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप + हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; 'carried off'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण)

• शुध्यन्ति: are purified
• शुध्यन्ति: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दश: ten (times/units)
• दश: Parimāṇa (Measure/परिमाण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; (भस्मना इत्यस्य परिमाणम्)

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even heavily defiled bronze vessels can be restored through prescribed repetition (tenfold ash application).

Vedantic Theme: Discipline and repeatable practice (abhyāsa) to restore sattva in conduct; external purity supports inner steadiness.

Application: If bronze vessels are contaminated by cow-sniffing, śūdra leftovers, or crow/dog contact, cleanse by applying ash ten times (as prescribed).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: household/communal eating space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222.25 (ash and fire purification); Garuda Purana 1.222.27 (food/vessel impurity consequences)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Cow
• Crow
• Dog
• Shudra

FAQs

What is the importance of ash (bhasma) purification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes ash as a practical purifier for specific contaminations, emphasizing ritual cleanliness (śauca) as part of dharma and proper observance of rites.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals?

Preta-related rites require strict purity of vessels and offerings; this rule supports the broader Garuda Purana framework where correct śauca safeguards the efficacy of śrāddha and other observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For traditional practice, use ash-based cleansing (as per one’s sampradāya and local dharma guidelines) for ritual vessels after specific defilements, and maintain mindful hygiene and separation of food remnants.