CHARUCHARYA Part XXIII

 

पदाग्निं गां गुरुं देवं न चोच्छिष्टः स्पृशेद्‌ घृतम्‌ ।

दानवानां विनष्टा श्रीरुच्छिष्टस्पृष्टसर्पिषाम्‌ ॥ ८५ ॥

Padāgniṁ gāṁ guruṁ devaṁ na cocchiṣṭaḥ spṛśed ghṛtam |
Dānavānāṁ vinaṣṭā śrīr ucchiṣṭa-spṛṣṭa-sarpiṣām || 85 ||

Translation:

One should not touch fire, a cow, a teacher, or a deity with the feet.
One should also not touch ghee with unclean (food-touched) hands.
It is said that the demons lost their prosperity because they touched ghee with impure hands.

Explanation:

This verse teaches respect and purity.

·         Fire (Agni) is sacred and used in rituals.

·         Cow (Gāy) is revered as holy.

·         Guru represents knowledge.

·         Deity (Deva) represents divinity.

Touching them with the feet shows disrespect.
Similarly, touching ghee (clarified butter used in rituals) with unclean hands shows impurity.

The story about the demons (Danavas) symbolically teaches that lack of purity and discipline leads to loss of prosperity.

The main lesson:
Maintain cleanliness, reverence, and discipline in life.

प्रतिलोमविवाहेषु न कुर्यादुन्नतिस्पृहाम्‌ । ययातिः शुक्रकन्यायां सस्पृहो म्लेच्छतां गतः ॥ ८६ ॥

Pratiloma-vivāheṣu na kuryād unnati-spṛhām |
Yayātiḥ Śukra-kanyāyāṁ saspṛho mlecchatāṁ gataḥ || 86 ||

Translation:

One should not expect elevation or prosperity from a pratiloma (socially improper) marriage.
King Yayati desired and married the daughter of Śukra and thereby fell into degradation.

Explanation:

This verse refers to the story of King Yayati, who married Devayani, the daughter of Shukracharya.

The verse reflects the ancient social rule about pratiloma marriage (a socially disapproved union according to old varna rules).

Because of his excessive desire and improper conduct, Yayati later suffered disgrace and curse.

The deeper moral meaning is:

Actions driven by desire and social impropriety may lead to downfall.
One should think about dharma (righteousness) before acting.

रूपार्थकुलविद्यादिहीनं नोपहसेन्नरम्‌ । हसन्तमशपन्नन्दी रावणं वानराननः ॥ ८७ ॥

Rūpārtha-kula-vidyādi-hīnaṁ nopahasen naram |
Hasantam aśapan Nandī Rāvaṇaṁ vānara-ānanaḥ || 87 ||

Translation:

One should never mock a person who lacks beauty, wealth, family status, or education.
Nandi, who had a monkey-like face, cursed Ravana when he was mocked.

Explanation:

Here the reference is to:

·         Nandi – the attendant of Lord Shiva.

·         Ravana – the king of Lanka in the Ramayana.

When Ravana laughed at Nandi’s appearance, Nandi cursed him. Later, Ravana’s destruction came through monkeys (Vanaras) in the Ramayana.

The lesson is clear:

Never insult or mock anyone for their appearance, poverty, birth, or lack of education.
Arrogance leads to downfall.
Respect for all is a sign of true wisdom.

 

Overall Teaching of These Three Verses

These verses together teach:

·         Respect sacred things and maintain purity.

·         Avoid actions driven by uncontrolled desire.

·         Never insult or mock others.

·         Arrogance and disrespect lead to downfall.

·         Discipline, humility, and righteousness bring prosperity.

They remind us that outer behavior reflects inner character, and character determines destiny.