Shloka 32
Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya
नरके वसते घोरे गवां क्रोधो हि दारुणः । सलिलं च न गृह्णंति पितरस्तस्य देहिनः ॥ ३२ ॥
narake vasate ghore gavāṃ krodho hi dāruṇaḥ | salilaṃ ca na gṛhṇaṃti pitarastasya dehinaḥ || 32 ||
അവൻ ഭീകര നരകത്തിൽ വസിക്കുന്നു; കാരണം പശുക്കളുടെ കോപം അത്യന്തം ദാരുണമാണ്. ആ ദേഹധാരിയുടെ പിതൃകൾ അവൻ അർപ്പിക്കുന്ന ജലവും സ്വീകരിക്കുകയില്ല।
Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga narrative on tīrtha/dharma and merit-demerit)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
The verse teaches that harming or gravely offending cows (go-aparādha) produces severe karmic fallout: one falls into fearful hells, and even one’s ancestral rites lose efficacy because the Pitṛs refuse the offering.
By implication, it supports Vaiṣṇava dharma: honoring sacred beings like cows—traditionally linked with dharma and Viṣṇu’s worship—purifies conduct. Bhakti is not mere sentiment; it is expressed through non-violence, reverence, and righteous behavior.
It points to ritual praxis connected with Kalpa (procedure): Pitṛ-tarpaṇa (water-libations to ancestors). The verse states a practical rule of ritual-fruit—grave adharma can invalidate acceptance of offerings by the Pitṛs.