Shloka 4
Ṛtucaryā, Āhāra–Aushadha Prayoga, Viṣa-haraṇa, and Mantra Procedures
अतसीमाषगोधूमचूर्णं कृत्वा तु पिप्पली / घृतेन लेपयेद्गत्रमोभिः सार्धं विचक्षणः / कन्दर्पसदृशो मर्त्यो नित्यं भवति शङ्कर !
atasīmāṣagodhūmacūrṇaṃ kṛtvā tu pippalī / ghṛtena lepayedgatramobhiḥ sārdhaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ / kandarpasadṛśo martyo nityaṃ bhavati śaṅkara !
হে শংকৰ! বিচক্ষণ ব্যক্তি অতসী, মাষ আৰু গোধূমৰ চূৰ্ণ কৰি তাত পিপ্পলী মিহলাই, ঘৃতসহ (ৰোমসহ) দেহত লেপন কৰিলে, সেই মর্ত্য নিত্য কন্দর্পসদৃশ ৰূপবান হয়।
Lord Vishnu (narrating a remedy; vocative 'Śaṅkara' appears within the verse)
Concept: External regimen (lepa/anulepana) and disciplined self-care can enhance appearance; worldly refinement is acceptable when aligned with restraint and purpose.
Vedantic Theme: Sattva-cultivation through cleanliness and regulated living; body as a vehicle, not the Self.
Application: Prepare powder of atasī, māṣa, godhūma; combine with pippalī; apply with ghee (as base) as a body paste for complexion/attractiveness (traditional claim).
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.182 (cosmetic/tonic preparations)
FAQs
This verse presents a practical, ritual-adjacent bodily application (lepa) using grains, spices, and ghee, reflecting the Purana’s inclusion of traditional remedies alongside dharma teachings.
It does not address the after-death journey here; instead, it gives a worldly (laukika) practice aimed at physical beauty, showing that the text also contains guidance for embodied life.
Treat it as a historical traditional formulation; if one wishes to apply it, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner and consider safety/allergies rather than using it blindly.