Shloka 14

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

Fever, GI Disorders, Bleeding, Respiratory, Urinary, Swelling, and Wound Care

Devanagari script

बलाश्वदंष्ट्राबिल्वादि पाठानागरधान्यकम् / एतदाहारसंयोगे हितं सर्वातिसारिणाम्

Transliteration

balāśvadaṃṣṭrābilvādi pāṭhānāgaradhānyakam / etadāhārasaṃyoge hitaṃ sarvātisāriṇām

Translation

بالا، وأشفَدَنْشْطْرا، وبِلفا وما يتصل بها—مع پاثا، والزنجبيل الجاف، ودهانيَكا—إذا جُمِعت على وجهٍ مناسب في الطعام كانت نافعةً لكل من ابتُلي بالإسهال (أتيسارا).

Word by Word

• बला: balā (Sida cordifolia)
• बला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (ingredient-name used in compound)

• अश्व-दंष्ट्रा: aśvadaṃṣṭrā (Gokṣura/related herb-name)
• अश्व-दंष्ट्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अश्वस्य दंष्ट्रा इव) (औषधिद्रव्यनाम)

• बिल्व-आदि: bilva and the like
• बिल्व-आदि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (बिल्वं आदिः यस्मात्—'bilva etc.')

• पाठ: pāṭhā (Cissampelos pareira)
• पाठ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (ingredient-name used in compound)

• नागर: dry ginger
• नागर: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (ingredient-name used in compound)

• धान्यकम्: coriander
• धान्यकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आहार-संयोगे: in combination with diet/food
• आहार-संयोगे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आहारस्य संयोगः)

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (धा धातु/√धा 'to place' + क्त; 'placed/beneficial')
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• सर्व-अतीसारिणाम्: of all diarrhoea-patients
• सर्व-अतीसारिणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अतीसारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां अतीसारिणां)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right food-combination (āhāra-saṃyoga) is central to health; disciplined diet is a form of self-governance.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva through regulated intake; mastery of senses (indriya-nigraha) supports clarity.

Application: Combine balā, aśvadanṣṭrā, bilva (and related), pāṭhā, dry ginger, and dhānyaka appropriately in diet for atisāra sufferers, tailored to strength and stage of disease.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (diet and decoction measures for atisāra)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of bilva and related herbs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights bilva-centered dietary combinations as a classical, practical measure for controlling atisāra, reflecting the text’s medicinal tradition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not narrate the soul’s journey; instead, it teaches health-supporting conduct (pathya āhāra) that sustains one’s dharma in embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It suggests using specific digestive-support herbs as part of diet; for acute diarrhoea, dehydration risk is serious—seek medical care while using traditional measures responsibly.