Shloka 4

Purification of Substances (Dravya-Śuddhi) and Rules of Ācamana

Devanagari script

भैक्ष्यं योषिन्मुखं पश्यन्पुनः पाकान्महीमयम् / गाघ्नाते ऽन्ने तथा केशमक्षिकाकीटदूषिते

Transliteration

bhaikṣyaṃ yoṣinmukhaṃ paśyanpunaḥ pākānmahīmayam / gāghnāte 'nne tathā keśamakṣikākīṭadūṣite

Translation

भैक्ष्यं योषिन्मुखं पश्यन्पुनः पाकान्महीमयम्। गाघ्नातेऽन्ने तथा केशमक्षिकाकीटदूषिते पापं भुङ्क्ते॥

Word by Word

• भैक्ष्यम्: alms-food
• भैक्ष्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• योषित्-मुखम्: a woman's face
• योषित्-मुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• पश्यन्: seeing
• पश्यन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Present active participle nom. sg; क्रियाविशेषणभाव (concomitant action)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय — adverb

• पाकात्: from cooking
• पाकात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — Ablative singular

• महीमयम्: made of earth (earthen)
• महीमयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मही + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; विशेषण (qualifier)

• गाघ्नाते: is destroyed/ruined (spoils)
• गाघ्नाते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घ्ना/हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present middle 3rd sg (descriptive/iterative form गाघ्ना-)

• अन्ने: in food
• अन्ने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय — adverb

• केशम्: a hair
• केशम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — Nominative/Accusative singular; here as subject with गाघ्नाते

• अक्षिकाकीटदूषिते: when contaminated by flies and insects
• अक्षिकाकीटदूषिते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षिका + कीट + दूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular; विशेषण (qualifier)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Improper conduct while taking alms (distracted/sexualized gaze) and eating contaminated or re-cooked/spoiled food leads to pāpa.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense restraint) and āhāra-śuddhi (purity of food) support sattva and spiritual fitness; negligence binds through karma.

Application: Practice mindful eating; avoid objectifying gaze; avoid re-cooked/stale or contaminated food; maintain food hygiene and discernment, especially for those living on alms or observing vows.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: alms-setting / eating place (bhikṣā context)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.97 (food faults and śauca rules; pāpa from improper eating)

FAQs

What is the importance of food purity in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats eating as a dharmic act: alms-food should be taken with restraint and cleanliness, and food contaminated by dust, hair, flies, or insects is considered spiritually harmful and sin-producing.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking everyday conduct (especially eating) with sin, it implies that seemingly small impurities and distractions accumulate karmic results that later shape suffering and experience after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Eat with attention and modesty, avoid distracted or lustful gazing while eating, and maintain hygiene—do not consume food that is visibly contaminated or spoiled.