Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

अङ्कोटमूलनिष्क्वाथः साज्यः पीतो विषान्तकः / यज्जराव्याधिविध्वंसि भेषजं तद्रसायनम्

Transliteration

aṅkoṭamūlaniṣkvāthaḥ sājyaḥ pīto viṣāntakaḥ / yajjarāvyādhividhvaṃsi bheṣajaṃ tadrasāyanam

Translation

مغليُّ جذر الأَنْكوطَة (aṅkoṭa) إذا شُرب مع السمن (ghee) أباد السمّ. وكل دواء يزيل الشيخوخة والمرض يُعدّ رَسَايَنَة (rasāyana)، أي علاجًا للتجديد والإحياء.

Word by Word

• अङ्कोटमूलनिष्क्वाथः: decoction of aṅkoṭa-root
• अङ्कोटमूलनिष्क्वाथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कोट + मूल + निष्क्वाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/समाहार: अङ्कोटस्य मूलस्य निष्क्वाथः

• साज्यः: with ghee
• साज्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष (with ghee) विशेषणम् निष्क्वाथस्य

• पीतः: when drunk/ingested
• पीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) + त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (when drunk)

• विषान्तकः: destroyer of poison
• विषान्तकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (destroyer of poison)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative)

• जराव्याधिविध्वंसि: destroying old age and disease
• जराव्याधिविध्वंसि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरा + व्याधि + विध्वंसिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: जरां च व्याधिं च विध्वंसयति इति; विशेषणम् भेषजस्य

• भेषजम्: medicine
• भेषजम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेषज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय/नाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• रसायनम्: rejuvenative therapy; rasāyana
• रसायनम्: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rasāyana is defined functionally: whatever truly destroys jarā (senescence) and vyādhi (disease) merits the name—an epistemic criterion grounded in effect.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumental valuation of the body: health is a means, not the end; discernment (viveka) in naming/valuing practices by their transformative result.

Application: Evaluate therapies by demonstrated capacity to reduce disease burden and improve vitality; cultivate sustainable rejuvenation through diet, conduct, and (where appropriate) validated rasāyana practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: herbal grove/vaidya’s workspace

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.172 (viṣa-hara remedies culminating in rasāyana reflection)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of rasāyana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines rasāyana as any remedy that counteracts aging and disease, framing rejuvenation as a recognized spiritual-medical category within the text.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the after-death journey here; instead, it focuses on preserving life and health through rasāyana, a preparatory support for dharmic living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat rasāyana as disciplined rejuvenation—diet, safe medicines, and routines aimed at reducing disease and premature decline (with qualified medical guidance).