Shloka 14

Keśa-vardhana, Pālitā-nāśa, Śiraḥ-roga and Karṇa-śūla Cikitsā

Hair Growth, Greying Reversal, Head & Ear Remedies

Devanagari script

मेषमूत्रसैन्धवाभ्यां कर्णयोर्भरणाच्छिव / कर्णयोः पूतिनाशः स्यात्कृमिस्त्रावादिकस्य च

Transliteration

meṣamūtrasaindhavābhyāṃ karṇayorbharaṇācchiva / karṇayoḥ pūtināśaḥ syātkṛmistrāvādikasya ca

Translation

يا شِيفا (Śiva)، إن ملءَ الأذنين بمزيجٍ من بولِ الكبش والملحِ الصخري يُذهِبُ نتنَ الأذن؛ وكذلك يُزيلُ داءَ الديدان، والسيلان، وما يتصل به من علل.

Word by Word

• मेषमूत्रसैन्धवाभ्याम्: with sheep-urine and rock-salt
• मेषमूत्रसैन्धवाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेष (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सैन्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (मेषमूत्रं च सैन्धवं च)

• कर्णयोः: of/in the two ears
• कर्णयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन

• भरणात्: from filling/instillation
• भरणात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• कर्णयोः: of/in the two ears
• कर्णयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन

• पूतिनाशः: destruction of foulness/putrefaction
• पूतिनाशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूति (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पूतेः नाशः)

• स्यात्: would be/occurs
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• कृमिस्त्रावादिकस्य: of worms, discharge, etc.
• कृमिस्त्रावादिकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्राव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (कृमि-स्त्राव-आदि-समूहस्य)

• च: and/also
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda, with a vocative reference to Śiva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even impure, distressing conditions are to be treated without aversion, using effective means; compassion and cleanliness uphold dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Aśauca/śauca at the bodily level: purification supports steadiness of mind and worship; transcendence does not negate responsible care.

Application: Recognize signs of infection/infestation and seek proper treatment; the text records a strong traditional measure, but modern safety and diagnosis are essential.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.176.13-14 (earache, fetor, worms, discharge)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of ear-disease remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves practical, tradition-based therapeutics (karṇa-roga-pratikāra), showing that the Purana also transmits applied healing knowledge alongside dharma and ritual teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly address the soul’s journey; instead, it focuses on bodily well-being through a specific remedy, reflecting the text’s broader scope beyond afterlife narratives.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights the traditional use of saindhava in cleansing formulations; however, because it involves instilling substances into the ear, it should be approached cautiously and only with qualified medical guidance.