Shloka 26
Rules of Edible and Inedible Foods
कृमिदुष्टं भावदुष्टं मृत्संसर्गं च वर्जयेत् । कृमिकीटावपन्नं च सुहृत्क्लेदं च नित्यशः
kṛmiduṣṭaṃ bhāvaduṣṭaṃ mṛtsaṃsargaṃ ca varjayet | kṛmikīṭāvapannaṃ ca suhṛtkledaṃ ca nityaśaḥ
Hendaklah menghindari makanan yang rosak oleh cacing, yang tercemar keadaannya, dan yang bersentuhan dengan tanah (ketidak-sucian). Demikian juga, hendaklah sentiasa menjauhi yang dihinggapi cacing dan serangga, serta yang lembap kerana basah.
Unspecified (didactic injunction within the Svargakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Concept: Avoiding contaminated food is both physical hygiene and ritual ethics; purity of intake supports purity of mind and worship.
Application: Inspect food for spoilage, infestation, dampness, and contamination; store offerings properly; keep cooking spaces dry and clean—especially on vrata days.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A clean granary room: a devotee holds a lamp close to grains, spotting tiny worms and damp clumps, then discards them into a separate pit outside the sacred boundary. Fresh, dry grains are placed into a sanctified brass container near a small altar, emphasizing vigilance and purity.","primary_figures":["a devotee inspecting grains","a helper/attendant"],"setting":"Storage room adjoining a shrine; woven baskets, clay bins, neem leaves for storage, a small altar shelf with incense.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm amber","clay brown","clean white","brass gold","sage green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: devotee with a small lamp inspecting grains, discarding worm-infested and damp portions, placing pure grains into a gold-highlighted brass vessel near a Viṣṇu altar; gold leaf on vessels and halo motifs, rich reds/greens, ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate domestic scene with delicate brushwork—grain baskets, a lamp, careful hands separating spoiled from pure; cool earthy palette, refined faces, gentle architectural framing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—clear symbolic depiction of ‘pure’ vs ‘impure’ heaps, devotee’s decisive gesture of avoidance; natural pigments, temple-wall composition, rhythmic patterns on baskets and cloth.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional household purity scene framed by lotus and floral borders; central pure grain vessel before a small Viṣṇu symbol, with worms/dampness shown outside the sanctified circle; deep blues and gold accents, intricate ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["rustle of grain","soft bell","morning birds","incense crackle","brief silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No mandatory external sandhi beyond standard compound formation; कृमिकीटावपन्नम् is a compound form.
FAQs
It teaches shauca (cleanliness) through avoidance of items that are contaminated—by worms/insects, dampness, spoilage, or contact with soil—implying careful discernment in daily conduct (especially regarding consumables and ritual suitability).
These are classical markers of impurity and decay: infestation signals spoilage; earth-contact can indicate defilement; moisture accelerates contamination. The verse codifies observable signs for deciding what should be rejected.
It promotes vigilance and restraint—training one to reject what is compromised, unwholesome, or unfit—supporting a broader dharmic ideal of purity in action and discernment in habits.