Shloka 42

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

गवां रजो धान्यरजः पुत्रस्याङ्गभवं रजः / एतद्रजो महाशस्तं महापातकनाशनम्

Transliteration

gavāṃ rajo dhānyarajaḥ putrasyāṅgabhavaṃ rajaḥ / etadrajo mahāśastaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam

Translation

Debu daripada lembu, debu daripada biji-bijian, dan debu yang timbul daripada tubuh seorang putera—debu ini diisytiharkan amat mujarab, pemusnah bahkan dosa yang paling besar.

Word by Word

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• रजः: dust
• रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धान्य-रजः: grain-dust
• धान्य-रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धान्यस्य रजः)

• पुत्रस्य: of a son
• पुत्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अङ्ग-भवम्: born from the body (bodily)
• अङ्ग-भवम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (अङ्गात्/अङ्गस्य भवम्) ‘born from the body’; विशेषण (of rajas)

• रजः: dust
• रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एतत्-रजः: this dust
• एतत्-रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (एतत् रजः)

• महा-शस्तम्: highly praised, very commendable
• महा-शस्तम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + शस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शंस्/शस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

• महा-पातक-नाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महा-पातक-नाशनम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महापातकस्य नाशनम्); विधेय-विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain contacts/substances are held to have pāpa-kṣaya (sin-diminishing) potency; purity and merit can be supported through sanctioned auspicious media.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through śuddhi and sattvic supports; external purifiers as aids (upāya) within pravṛtti-dharma.

Application: Use culturally sanctioned purificatory practices (e.g., cow-associated purity rites) and cultivate reverence for food sources; interpret ‘dust’ as symbolic of humble, grounded purity and familial blessings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cowshed/fields/household courtyard

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.43 (contrast: dust that causes demerit); Garuda Purana sections praising go-sevā and purity (general thematic)

FAQs

What is the importance of purificatory dust (rajaḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse praises specific forms of “dust” (from cows, grains, and a son’s body) as highly purifying substances used in expiation and ritual cleansing, even for grave sins.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: by emphasizing purification and expiation (prāyaścitta), it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that one’s karmic burdens affect post-death outcomes, and that prescribed rites help remove impediments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ritual and ethical purity: honor traditional cleansing disciplines, cultivate responsibility toward family and livelihood (food/grain), and prioritize sincere atonement and corrective conduct when wrongdoing occurs.