Shloka 18

Netra–Nāsa–Mukha Cikitsā, Vraṇa/Bhasma Prayoga, Jvara–Vāta Remedies, and Protective/Uccāṭana Procedures

Devanagari script

गुञ्जामूलं छागमूत्रे घृष्टं तिमिरनुच्च तत् रौप्यताम्रसुवर्णानां हस्तघृष्टशलाकया

Transliteration

guñjāmūlaṃ chāgamūtre ghṛṣṭaṃ timiranucca tat raupyatāmrasuvarṇānāṃ hastaghṛṣṭaśalākayā

Translation

يُقال إن جذر الغُنْجَا (guñjā) إذا سُحِق في بول الماعز أزال ظلمة العين الشبيهة بالسَّاد؛ ويُستعمل بوضعه بواسطة مِسبارٍ صغير (شَلاكا śalākā) يُفرك باليد، سواء كان من فضة أو نحاس أو ذهب.

Word by Word

• गुञ्जामूलम्: root of guñjā (Abrus precatorius)
• गुञ्जामूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुञ्जा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• छागमूत्रे: in goat's urine
• छागमूत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Loc., Singular)

• घृष्टम्: ground, rubbed
• घृष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (PPP; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• तिमिरनुत्: dispeller of timira (cataract/dimness)
• तिमिरनुत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिमिर (प्रातिपदिक) + नुत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √नुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular); बहुव्रीहिवत्-विशेषणार्थे 'तिमिरं नुदति' (one that dispels cataract/darkness)

• उच्च: excellent, potent
• उच्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• तत्: that (preparation)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• रौप्यताम्रसुवर्णानाम्: of silver, copper, and gold
• रौप्यताम्रसुवर्णानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Gen., Pl.)

• हस्तघृष्टशलाकया: with a hand-rubbed applicator/rod
• हस्तघृष्टशलाकया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + घृष्ट (कृदन्त; √घृष्) + शलाका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Instr., Singular); 'हस्तेन घृष्टा शलाका' (a rod rubbed by hand)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Skillful means (upāya) and careful instruments in alleviating suffering; disciplined technique matters.

Vedantic Theme: Duhkha-nivṛtti through right action; pramāda (carelessness) is to be avoided in bodily instruments.

Application: Grind guñjā root in goat’s urine; apply to the eye using a hand-rubbed śalākā (probe/rod) made of silver, copper, or gold for timira-like opacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177 (ocular therapies; añjana/śalākā usage in contiguous verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this Garuda Purana verse on timira (cataract/eye darkness)?

It preserves a traditional therapeutic formula, stating that guñjā-root triturated in goat’s urine and applied with a śalākā is intended to dispel timira—an Ayurvedic category of vision-obscuring disorders.

How does this verse explain the method of application (śalākā) for the remedy?

It specifies a hand-rubbed small applicator/rod (śalākā), and notes acceptable materials—silver, copper, or gold—indicating a precise procedural instruction rather than a purely symbolic statement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as historical/philological guidance on traditional medical culture in the Garuda Purana; for real eye conditions, seek qualified medical care, since guñjā is toxic and such preparations should not be self-administered.