Shloka 14

Strīroga–Prasūti–Bāla Cikitsā, Viṣa-haraṇa, Rasāyana, Ṛtucaryā, Pañcakarma-saṅgraha

Devanagari script

कुष्ठा वचाभया ब्राह्मी मधुरा क्षौद्रसर्पिषा / वर्णायुः कान्तिजननं लेह्यं वालम्य दापयेत्

Transliteration

kuṣṭhā vacābhayā brāhmī madhurā kṣaudrasarpiṣā / varṇāyuḥ kāntijananaṃ lehyaṃ vālamya dāpayet

Translation

يُمزَج kuṣṭha وvacā وabhayā وbrāhmī وmadhurā مع العسل والسمن (ghee)، ويُجعل معجونًا يُلعَق للطفل؛ فهو يُنبت حُسن اللون، ويزيد طول العمر، ويمنح البهاء والإشراق.

Word by Word

• कुष्ठा: kuṣṭhā (herb)
• कुष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वचा: vacā (sweet flag)
• वचा: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अभया: abhayā (harītakī)
• अभया: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• ब्राह्मी: brāhmī (bacopa) (with vacā and abhayā)
• ब्राह्मी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वचा-अभया-ब्राह्मी (समाहार/समुच्चयार्थे)

• मधुरा: sweet
• मधुरा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्षौद्र: with honey
• क्षौद्र: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• सर्पिषा: with ghee
• सर्पिषा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्षौद्र-सर्पिषा = मधुना च घृतेन च (instrumental)

• वर्ण: of complexion
• वर्ण: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• आयुः: (for) lifespan
• आयुः: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; वर्ण-आयुः = वर्णस्य च आयुषः च (for complexion and lifespan)

• कान्ति: of luster
• कान्ति: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• जननम्: generation/producing
• जननम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कान्ति-जननम् = कान्तेः जननम् (producing luster)

• लेह्यम्: a lickable paste/electuary
• लेह्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेह्य (प्रातिपदिक; √लिह् ‘to lick’ + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मणि साध्य (lickable electuary)

• वालम्: child/infant
• वालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थसूचक/उद्धरणचिह्न

• आम्य: raw/undigested (reading uncertain)
• आम्य: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)

• दापयेत्: should administer/give (to be taken)
• दापयेत्: Pravartaka (Causative agent/प्रवर्तक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nurturing tejas and longevity through disciplined care; the body as an instrument for dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Embodiment as a field (kṣetra) to be maintained for higher aims; sattvic support of life.

Application: Use age-appropriate, safe formulations (lehya) to support immunity, complexion, and strength; avoid excess and ensure suitability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household/vaidya-setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.172 (rasāyana/lehya prescriptions for children)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this lehya (lickable preparation) in the Garuda Purana?

The verse preserves a rasāyana-style recipe aimed at supporting a child’s vitality—complexion (varṇa), longevity (āyuḥ), and radiance (kānti).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This chapter segment is medical/practical rather than eschatological; it focuses on sustaining life and wellbeing, not the soul’s post-death route.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as traditional knowledge; because herbs and honey/ghee dosing can be sensitive (especially for infants), seek professional guidance before use.