Shloka 64

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

पयः काञ्चनवर्णायाः श्वेतवर्णं च गोमयम् / गोमूत्रं ताम्रवर्णाया नीलवर्णभवं घृतम्

Transliteration

payaḥ kāñcanavarṇāyāḥ śvetavarṇaṃ ca gomayam / gomūtraṃ tāmravarṇāyā nīlavarṇabhavaṃ ghṛtam

Translation

کاںچن رنگ گائے سے دودھ لیا جائے؛ سفید رنگ گائے سے گوبر۔ تانبئی رنگ گائے سے گو مُوتر، اور نیلے رنگ گائے سے گھی لیا جائے۔

Word by Word

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• काञ्चनवर्णायाः: of the golden-colored (cow)
• काञ्चनवर्णायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषप्रायः (काञ्चन-वर्णा)

• श्वेतवर्णम्: white-colored
• श्वेतवर्णम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्वेतः वर्णः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गोः मयम्)

• गोमूत्रम्: cow-urine
• गोमूत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गोः मूत्रम्)

• ताम्रवर्णायाः: of the copper-colored (cow)
• ताम्रवर्णायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषप्रायः (ताम्र-वर्णा)

• नीलवर्णभवम्: arising from the blue-colored (cow)
• नीलवर्णभवम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + वर्ण + भव (√भू धातु; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नीलवर्णात् भवम्)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual substances are selected by prescribed correspondences; pañcagavya components are gathered with specific qualifiers.

Vedantic Theme: External śauca as an aid to inner śauca; symbolic order (ṛta) reflected in ritual taxonomy.

Application: If following pañcagavya rites, source materials ethically and hygienically; treat prescriptions as tradition-bound and consult competent ācārya for context.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral/household ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana pañcagavya and śuddhi passages (milk/curd/ghee/urine/dung); Garuda Purana prāyaścitta sections using go-dravya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Go (Cow)

FAQs

What is the importance of cow-derived substances in the Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns specific cow-products (milk, dung, urine, ghee) for ritual use, reflecting their role as traditional purifiers in śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related observances.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death-ritual practice?

It functions as a procedural detail: specifying the proper sourcing of purification materials used in rites connected with post-death duties and dharmic observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For those following traditional rites, it emphasizes careful, rule-based preparation of ritual materials; ethically, it highlights discipline and reverence in religious practice.