Shloka 151
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
सर्षपांश्च प्रियंगूंश्च कल्मषात्प्रतिमुच्यते । घृतक्षीरप्रदा गावो घृतयोन्यो घृतोद्भवाः
sarṣapāṃśca priyaṃgūṃśca kalmaṣātpratimucyate | ghṛtakṣīrapradā gāvo ghṛtayonyo ghṛtodbhavāḥ
കടുകും പ്രിയംഗുവും ദാനം ചെയ്താൽ കല്മഷത്തിൽ നിന്ന് മോചനം ലഭിക്കുന്നു. നെയ്യും പാലും നൽകുന്ന ഗോകൾ നെയ്യിൽ നിന്നുള്ള യോനിയായവ, നെയ്യിൽ നിന്നുത്ഭവിച്ചവ; നെയ്യുതന്നെ അവയുടെ മൂലമാണ്.
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa 48)
Concept: Impurity is removed through prescribed offerings; cows are sacral because they yield ghee and milk—substances central to yajña and devotional worship.
Application: Adopt small, consistent purifying acts—charity of simple items, maintaining cleanliness, and supporting ethical dairy/animal care; treat food and offerings as sacred, not merely consumables.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A small ritual platform is prepared with neat piles of mustard seeds and priyaṅgu grains, their textures distinct—black-gold specks and pale fragrant millet. Behind, a serene cow stands as the living source of milk and ghee, while a priestly figure offers the grains into a modest fire, the smoke rising like a purifier of unseen stains.","primary_figures":["Ritual practitioner (householder or sage)","Sacred cow (go-mātā)","Agni (ritual fire, symbolic)"],"setting":"Āśrama clearing or home altar space with a small homa-kuṇḍa, vessels of milk and ghee nearby.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoldering ember orange","ghee gold","ash gray","cream white","forest green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central homa-kuṇḍa with stylized flames, practitioner offering mustard and priyaṅgu; cow behind with ornate ornaments; gold leaf on flames and vessels, rich red backdrop, decorative arch and lotus borders, gem-like detailing on ritual implements.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate āśrama scene with soft firelight, delicate rendering of grains in the offering hand; cow calm under a tree, distant hills; cool natural palette with warm fire accents, refined lines and gentle expressions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of practitioner, cow, and fire in iconic arrangement; patterned garments, strong red/yellow/green pigments; stylized grains and vessels, temple-wall symmetry and sacred geometry around the kuṇḍa.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ritual scene framed by floral borders and grain motifs; cow as auspicious centerpiece, fire rendered as lotus-flame; deep blue ground with gold highlights, peacocks and vines, intricate textile-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft crackle of fire","low mantra murmur","gentle bell","cow lowing in distance","even tanpura drone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्षपांश्च = सर्षपान् + च; प्रियंगूंश्च = प्रियङ्गून् + च; कल्मषात्प्रतिमुच्यते = कल्मषात् + प्रति + मुच्यते
FAQs
The verse states that offering mustard seeds (sarṣapa) and priyaṅgu grains is a means by which one is freed from impurity or sin (kalmaṣa).
This is a devotional-sacral description emphasizing the sanctity of the cow through association with ghṛta (ghee), a central Vedic-Purāṇic substance used in yajña and daily worship; it elevates cows as auspicious sources of sacred nourishment.
It links purification with disciplined offerings and reverence for life-sustaining gifts—especially cow-derived nourishment—encouraging ritual responsibility, gratitude, and respectful care (gau-sevā).