Shloka 13

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

क्वाथयित्वा ततो वाहं सृतरक्तं विचक्षणः / त्र्यहमेव प्रिदातव्यं हयकुष्ठोपशान्तये

Transliteration

kvāthayitvā tato vāhaṃ sṛtaraktaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ / tryahameva pridātavyaṃ hayakuṣṭhopaśāntaye

Translation

ثم بعد غليه، على الحكيم أن يُعطي ذلك المغلي ممزوجًا بدمٍ مُستخرج، ثلاثة أيام فقط، لتسكين داء الجلد (kuṣṭha) الذي يصيب الفرس.

Word by Word

• क्वाथयित्वा: having boiled
• क्वाथयित्वा: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्वाथय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: क्वाथय् (णिच्-प्रयोगः ‘क्वाथयति’ = boil)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे (adverb: thereafter)

• वाहम्: carrier/vehicle (here: a preparation/medium; lit. ‘vehicle’)
• वाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सृत-रक्तम्: with flowing blood
• सृत-रक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √सृ ‘to flow’) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘सृतं रक्तं यस्य/यत्’ (flowing blood)

• विचक्षणः: the discerning/wise (person)
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु—‘त्रीणि अहानि’ (for three days)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (particle of emphasis)

• प्रि-दातव्यम्: should be given
• प्रि-दातव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग) + √दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधेय—‘दातव्यम्’ = should be given

• हय-कुष्ठ-उपशान्तये: for alleviation of a horse’s leprosy/skin disease
• हय-कुष्ठ-उपशान्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक) + कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपशान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘हयस्य कुष्ठस्य उपशान्तये’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, in a didactic medical/ritual context)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Competent, time-bound administration of medicine by the wise (vichakshana) for effective outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic discipline (niyama) and right means (upaya) in embodied life; knowledge applied with restraint.

Application: Prepare the decoction properly; administer for a defined course (three days) for kushtha-type skin disease (noting the verse’s equine context).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.201 (sequence of veterinary/medical recipes; dosing and duration emphasized)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of this remedy-like instruction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s practical, prescriptive style—alongside spiritual teaching it also preserves traditional therapeutic instructions, emphasizing correct preparation (boiling/decoction) and a defined course (three days).

How does this verse relate to typical Garuda Purana themes like death rituals or the soul’s journey?

While many chapters focus on afterlife and dharma, some portions include pragmatic guidance (health, vows, conduct). This verse is primarily a procedural instruction rather than a description of Yama’s realm or preta-rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

The transferable principle is discipline in method: prepare remedies correctly and follow a defined regimen; for actual medical use, consult qualified practitioners rather than applying Purāṇic prescriptions directly.