SB 11.21.13
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 13
amedhya-liptaṁ yad yena
gandha-lepaṁ vyapohati
bhajate prakṛtiṁ tasya
tac chaucaṁ tāvad iṣyate
SYNONYMS
amedhya—by something impure; liptam—touched; yat—that thing which; yena—by which; gandha—the bad smell; lepam—and the impure covering; vyapohati—gives up; bhajate—the contaminated object again assumes; prakṛtim—its original nature; tasya—of that object; tat—that application; śaucam—purification; tāvat—to that extent; iṣyate—is considered.
TRANSLATION
A particular purifying agent is considered appropriate when its application removes the bad odor or dirty covering of some contaminated object and makes it resume its original nature.
PURPORT
Furniture, kitchen utensils, clothing and other objects are purified by application of abrasion, alkali, acid, water and so on. One thereby removes the bad fragrance or impure coating of such objects, restoring them to their original clean appearance.