Shloka 42

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

गोमयस्य प्रमाणं तु तेनाङ्गं लेपयेत्ततः / प्रक्षाल्याचम्य विधिवत्ततः स्नायात्समाहितः

Transliteration

gomayasya pramāṇaṃ tu tenāṅgaṃ lepayettataḥ / prakṣālyācamya vidhivattataḥ snāyātsamāhitaḥ

Translation

گائے کے گوبر کی مقررہ مقدار لے کر اس سے بدن پر لیپ کرے۔ پھر اسے دھو کر، قاعدے کے مطابق آچمن کر کے، یکسو اور متوجہ دل سے غسل کرے۔

Word by Word

• गोमयस्य: of cow-dung
• गोमयस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रमाणम्: the measure/quantity
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘मात्रा/परिमाणम्’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विरोध/विशेषार्थ particle)

• तेन: with that/by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अङ्गम्: the body/limbs
• अङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• लेपयेत्: should smear/apply
• लेपयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘लेपयति’

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/अनन्तर adverb): ‘तदनन्तरम्’

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रक्षाल्य (कृदन्त; √क्षल् (धातु) + प्र)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘प्रक्षालयित्वा’

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आचम्य (कृदन्त; √चम् (धातु) + आ)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘आचम्य’ (having sipped water ritually)

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण): ‘विधिना यथावत्’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/अनन्तर)

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समाहितः: composed/attentive
• समाहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित (कृदन्त; √धा (धातु) + सम्+आ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण: ‘एकाग्रचित्तः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gomaya as purifier; rule-bound sequence: lepa → washing → ācamana → snāna with samāhita-citta.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-saṃskāra: external order supports internal collectedness (samādhāna) for worship.

Application: If following traditional practice, use prescribed quantity, avoid excess; complete washing and ācamana properly; cultivate focused attention during bathing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.41 (prior washing measures); Garuda Purana 1.50.43-45 (mantra-consecration, Viṣṇu-smaraṇa, ācamana mantra)

FAQs

What is the importance of gomaya (cow-dung) purification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents gomaya-lepana followed by washing, ācamana, and bathing as a prescribed sequence for ritual purification, emphasizing both physical cleansing and sacred observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it teaches discipline and purity (ācāra) as supportive dharmic conduct, which the Garuda Purana treats as foundational for auspicious outcomes and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a structured approach to cleanliness before worship or rites—cleanse, perform a brief centering act (like ācamana or mindful sipping/prayer), and bathe or wash appropriately with focused attention.